The Jeffersonian Republicans: The Louisiana Purchase and the War of 1812: 1800 - 1823

April 1, 1999
Gr 5 Up-The Colliers preface both of these books with their clearly outlined views on historical studies for this audience. Rather than provide numerous details, they would rather "draw in bold strokes, providing enough information, but no more than is necessary, to bring out the basic themes of the American story, and what they mean to us now." This perhaps explains the lack of quotations, footnotes, and other references usually found in more scholarly works. The authors believe that "it is surely more important for students to grasp the underlying concepts and ideas...than to memorize an array of facts and figures." Their emphasis seems to be on telling the story in a smoothly flowing, carefully constructed narrative that conveys certain generalized conclusions about events of the period. In that, they do succeed. The books have a highly appealing format, with colors used to set off chapter headings. Full-color illustrations, including engravings, photos, original paintings, portraits, and cartoons of the time period, clarify cultural and historical events. Both titles have extensive indexes and separate bibliographies for students and teachers. They also have colorful maps. Unfortunately, some of those in Hispanic America are inaccurate or unclear. In one, the Gadsden Purchase is incorrectly labeled as the Louisiana Purchase. In another, the colors in the key do not exactly match the colors on the map, reducing its clarity and effectiveness. In the map showing "Spanish Explorers in the American South," the colors of the lines representing each explorer's route are similar, requiring effort on the part of readers to distinguish who went where. The dates given for the Utah Territory are 1890-1861. Attractive but flawed introductory volumes.-Phyllis Graves, Creekwood Middle School, Kingwood, TX

February 15, 1999
%% This is a multi-book review: SEE also the title "Hispanic America, Texas and the Mexican War, 1835.-1850." %% Gr. 5^-8. The second set of five volumes in the Drama of American History series are well-written books that take up the nation's story in 1787 and end in 1850. "Creating the Constitution" describes the background and significance of the document as well as the difficulties and compromises of the framers. "Building a New Nation" shows how the Federalists began to translate the principles of the Constitution into a practical guide for guiding the young nation. "Jeffersonian Republicans" includes the Louisiana Purchase, the Lewis and Clark expedition, and the War of 1812. "Andrew Jackson's America" describes a period of great change in America, from the Industrial Revolution to the Trail of Tears. "Hispanic America" concerns the history of Europeans in the Southwest, the creation of Hispanic culture in the region, the notion of manifest destiny, the Mexican War, and the settling of California. Like the earlier books in this excellent series, each volume offers readers a clear, concise picture of American history within a limited time frame. Most spreads are brightened by at least one illustration, a painting or print from the period, a photo of a site or artifact, or a map. Useful for school reports and surprisingly readable, this engaging series will be a welcome addition to school and public libraries. ((Reviewed February 15, 1999))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1999, American Library Association.)