Forgotten Americans, footnote figures who changed American history, is a book written by Willard Sterna Randall and Nancy Naira. The copy I am holding is published by ad capo press in 06 July 2010; the book has 257 pages that include the legend of 15 Americans who lived from the early 1600’s till late 1800’s. The book talks about the American’s who were deeply involved in the struggles, sorrows, victories and hardships of their times.
The beauty of this book is that you read about different people from different times. Good or bad, from Virginia or New York, politician or farmer, poor or rich. At the end all are a part of American history and related to each other in one way or another. It gives you a comprehensive idea of so many aspects of American history. You read about smart, patriot and handsome Tecumseh, a Native American leader of the Shawnee and a large tribal confederacy that opposed the United States during Tecumseh's War and the War of 1812 who didn’t want to trade his land in any way. Yet, you get the chance to read about hard working Thomas Jefferson who was secretary of state and he “…was designing the new nation’s mint, establishing a system of weights and measures, and helping to choose the site and supervise the design of a permanent United States capital…” and Tom Quick that killed so many innocent Indians in revenge of his father’s blood. Because of my zero knowledge about history of America, this class looked boring and hard to me. I found the book “forgotten Americans” an easy and more understandable way to find interest in the subject, History 7. In Forgotten Americans I find almost all the important parts of the main course study, illustrated and shown as an example in one’s life.
In my opinion the authors want to show the chronological order of American history from 1600’s to 1800’s by mentioning the stories of different people from the different parts of America, involved in different aspects of America. For example: the authors starts the book with the story of Anne Marbury Hutchinson, a woman who left England with her husband and seven children to become a pioneers of New England in early 1600’s. Anne’s story points out one of the main reasons why people left England (conflict of government to their religious beliefs). In addition, her story shows how American history is connected to Europe. There were people living in America before arrival of Europeans and America already had its history. But, this is the point where the history of America gets connected to the rest of the world and becomes more interesting. It shows how America interacts with the rest of the world, how people from different parts of the world came to America. Some come for gold like the Spanish, some come for trade and making money like the French, some come escaping the unfairness of their government, some come to spread their religious beliefs and some were forced to come here to work for their lords and make money for them.
As you further read the book the authors write the story of Brother Gideon, where you read about times when more whites were coming to settle in America and that Indian tribes already here, were forced to take sides. Day by day conflicts were emerging between tribes who were already living in this land and those who were new settlers. when Tom Quick’s father was killed by the Delaware’s his thirsty for revenge killed hundreds of Indians, which shows how in some cases Indians and new settlers had conflicts with each other.
The authors go deep into late 1700’s history of America by mentioning some aspect of Thomas Jefferson’s life. It shows corners and parts of America’s politics and those who were so into making a good base for the system of this country and those who were devoted in all aspects of this country. You learn how those people were politician officials in office and while on research and tour they didn’t even met governor George Clinton. The Albany register of may 30 recorded:
“on Thursday last, this city was honored with the presence of Mr. Jefferson, secretary of state, accompanied by… the celebrated Madison…. It is to be regretted that their short stay in this city deprived our principal characters from paying that respectful attention due to their distinguished merit. “
In addition you learn about church’s in early 1800’s . I learnt how Charles Grandson Finney, who was a Presbyterian and Congregationalist figure in the Second Great Awakening. He was known for his innovations in preaching and religious meetings such as having women pray in public meetings of mixed gender, development of the "anxious seat", a place where those considering becoming Christians could come to receive prayer, for public censure of individuals by name in sermons and prayers.
As you read more and more you get the connection of the stories to each other as I did get. When I studied the pages about Myra Colby Bradwell, ESQ I realized how being free and having opportunities in life makes you something better in life. Not just good for yourself but good for community at the same time. In early chapters of the book you read how it was hard for the women to do anything or even having their natural rights. And when community develops and paths to opportunity are paved, figures such as Myra the publisher and political activist arises, she was the first woman to be admitted to the Illinois bar to become the first female lawyer. As I mentioned before I think the authors goal is to write about important figures of American history, and through their biographies teach us history of America. And I think they have done such a good job. They way the biographies are organized has a time flow, you read about a different person in each chapter who lived in a different time and place in Americas. Yet, you feel a connection between these biographies. By starting a new chapter you don’t feel like you are starting a new book but you see the development and change related to biographies before to the ones you are reading now. For example: in first biography i read about Anne Marbury Hutchinson which shows one of the ways Europeans came to amerce: “the last European power to enter the race for new world territories and riches was England.” In second biography you read about Teedyuscung which teaches me that there were people before them coming to America. And as you move on you read about the conflicts arising between new settlers and Indians. Look how the connection flows. It shows when you go to other peoples land and you not belong their conflicts arise. Just this matter is learned from three different biographies of different people, but, well organized.
As a conclusion it’s a good book to be studied if possible while you are trying to learn about history of America from 1600-1800. I learned how people change through time and they leave their good or bad in inheritance for their children and generations below. I learned how people are encouraged to do something when they are consistently prohibited from. It strengthened my belief that people are born free with equal rights. It strengthened my belief that people are equal wither they are black, white, from east, west, or etc. Every page of the book is definitely connected to my life. I was born and raised in a country with war. Invaded by USSR of the time when I was born and destroyed more by America and its ISAF member countries when I left. I see my self in every page of the book. I want to be a patriot politician when I read about Thomas Jefferson, defend my countries freedom when I read about Tecumseh: “sell a country. Why not sell the air, the clouds and the great sea, as well as the earth?”, religious scholar when I read about Charles grandson Finney, I want to represent my countries teams in major international leagues when I read about Louis sock Alexis, and on and on.
The beauty of this book is that you read about different people from different times. Good or bad, from Virginia or New York, politician or farmer, poor or rich. At the end all are a part of American history and related to each other in one way or another. It gives you a comprehensive idea of so many aspects of American history. You read about smart, patriot and handsome Tecumseh, a Native American leader of the Shawnee and a large tribal confederacy that opposed the United States during Tecumseh's War and the War of 1812 who didn’t want to trade his land in any way. Yet, you get the chance to read about hard working Thomas Jefferson who was secretary of state and he “…was designing the new nation’s mint, establishing a system of weights and measures, and helping to choose the site and supervise the design of a permanent United States capital…” and Tom Quick that killed so many innocent Indians in revenge of his father’s blood. Because of my zero knowledge about history of America, this class looked boring and hard to me. I found the book “forgotten Americans” an easy and more understandable way to find interest in the subject, History 7. In Forgotten Americans I find almost all the important parts of the main course study, illustrated and shown as an example in one’s life.
In my opinion the authors want to show the chronological order of American history from 1600’s to 1800’s by mentioning the stories of different people from the different parts of America, involved in different aspects of America. For example: the authors starts the book with the story of Anne Marbury Hutchinson, a woman who left England with her husband and seven children to become a pioneers of New England in early 1600’s. Anne’s story points out one of the main reasons why people left England (conflict of government to their religious beliefs). In addition, her story shows how American history is connected to Europe. There were people living in America before arrival of Europeans and America already had its history. But, this is the point where the history of America gets connected to the rest of the world and becomes more interesting. It shows how America interacts with the rest of the world, how people from different parts of the world came to America. Some come for gold like the Spanish, some come for trade and making money like the French, some come escaping the unfairness of their government, some come to spread their religious beliefs and some were forced to come here to work for their lords and make money for them.
As you further read the book the authors write the story of Brother Gideon, where you read about times when more whites were coming to settle in America and that Indian tribes already here, were forced to take sides. Day by day conflicts were emerging between tribes who were already living in this land and those who were new settlers. when Tom Quick’s father was killed by the Delaware’s his thirsty for revenge killed hundreds of Indians, which shows how in some cases Indians and new settlers had conflicts with each other.
The authors go deep into late 1700’s history of America by mentioning some aspect of Thomas Jefferson’s life. It shows corners and parts of America’s politics and those who were so into making a good base for the system of this country and those who were devoted in all aspects of this country. You learn how those people were politician officials in office and while on research and tour they didn’t even met governor George Clinton. The Albany register of may 30 recorded:
“on Thursday last, this city was honored with the presence of Mr. Jefferson, secretary of state, accompanied by… the celebrated Madison…. It is to be regretted that their short stay in this city deprived our principal characters from paying that respectful attention due to their distinguished merit. “
In addition you learn about church’s in early 1800’s . I learnt how Charles Grandson Finney, who was a Presbyterian and Congregationalist figure in the Second Great Awakening. He was known for his innovations in preaching and religious meetings such as having women pray in public meetings of mixed gender, development of the "anxious seat", a place where those considering becoming Christians could come to receive prayer, for public censure of individuals by name in sermons and prayers.
As you read more and more you get the connection of the stories to each other as I did get. When I studied the pages about Myra Colby Bradwell, ESQ I realized how being free and having opportunities in life makes you something better in life. Not just good for yourself but good for community at the same time. In early chapters of the book you read how it was hard for the women to do anything or even having their natural rights. And when community develops and paths to opportunity are paved, figures such as Myra the publisher and political activist arises, she was the first woman to be admitted to the Illinois bar to become the first female lawyer. As I mentioned before I think the authors goal is to write about important figures of American history, and through their biographies teach us history of America. And I think they have done such a good job. They way the biographies are organized has a time flow, you read about a different person in each chapter who lived in a different time and place in Americas. Yet, you feel a connection between these biographies. By starting a new chapter you don’t feel like you are starting a new book but you see the development and change related to biographies before to the ones you are reading now. For example: in first biography i read about Anne Marbury Hutchinson which shows one of the ways Europeans came to amerce: “the last European power to enter the race for new world territories and riches was England.” In second biography you read about Teedyuscung which teaches me that there were people before them coming to America. And as you move on you read about the conflicts arising between new settlers and Indians. Look how the connection flows. It shows when you go to other peoples land and you not belong their conflicts arise. Just this matter is learned from three different biographies of different people, but, well organized.
As a conclusion it’s a good book to be studied if possible while you are trying to learn about history of America from 1600-1800. I learned how people change through time and they leave their good or bad in inheritance for their children and generations below. I learned how people are encouraged to do something when they are consistently prohibited from. It strengthened my belief that people are born free with equal rights. It strengthened my belief that people are equal wither they are black, white, from east, west, or etc. Every page of the book is definitely connected to my life. I was born and raised in a country with war. Invaded by USSR of the time when I was born and destroyed more by America and its ISAF member countries when I left. I see my self in every page of the book. I want to be a patriot politician when I read about Thomas Jefferson, defend my countries freedom when I read about Tecumseh: “sell a country. Why not sell the air, the clouds and the great sea, as well as the earth?”, religious scholar when I read about Charles grandson Finney, I want to represent my countries teams in major international leagues when I read about Louis sock Alexis, and on and on.
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