The Colonies, 1492-1750: Exploring the Formative Years of European Colonization in America
Reuben Gold Thwaites
May 2021 · Good Press
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256
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About this ebook
In "The Colonies, 1492-1750," Reuben Gold Thwaites meticulously examines the formative years of colonial America, weaving a narrative that blends keen historical analysis with engaging prose. Structured chronologically, the work covers the European exploration and subsequent establishment of colonies, highlighting key events, figures, and the socio-economic factors that shaped the era. Thwaites employs a blend of primary source excerpts and scholarly commentary, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of this pivotal time in American history, while situating these developments within a broader global context. Reuben Gold Thwaites (1853-1913), a prominent American historian and editor, drew upon his extensive background in literature and history to present this nuanced examination of colonialism. His role as editor of the Wisconsin Historical Society'Äôs collections and his own research into the Great Lakes region significantly influenced his perspective, allowing him to approach his subject with depth and clarity. Thwaites's commitment to making historical knowledge accessible to the public underscores the importance of his work in American historiography. Thwaites's "The Colonies, 1492-1750" is essential for history enthusiasts and scholars alike. Its thorough exploration of early colonial America provides rich insights into the complexities of European colonization, making it a vital resource for anyone seeking to understand the foundations of modern America. Readers will find themselves engaged with a narrative that resonates with contemporary themes, reflecting the enduring impact of the colonial experience.
About the author
Reuben Gold Thwaites (1853 - 1913) was an American librarian, historian and editor. He was born in 1853 in Dorchester, Massachusetts, and moved with his family to Omro, Wisconsin, in 1866. While teaching school, he studied college-level coursework and worked on local farms. He also reported for the Oshkosh Times. In 1874 he went to Yale University and studied history and economics as a special student. Though he never studied formally at the collegiate level beyond his time at Yale, he was awarded an LL.D. form the University of Wisconsin later in his life. Thwaites returned to Wisconsin two years later and settled in Madison, where he served for a time as managing editor of the Wisconsin State Journal. In 1885 he became Assistant Corresponding Secretary of the Historical Society of Wisconsin, and when Lyman C. Draper retired as Secretary in 1887, Thwaites was appointed to succeed him. It was a post he would hold until his death. Thwaites' scholarly reputation rested primarily as his skills as an editor of historical documents. Among the more important projects completed by him and his assistants during his years with the Society were: The Jesuit Relations and Allied documents (73 vols.), Lewis and Clark Journals (8 vols.), Early Western Travels (32 vols.) and Collections of the State Historical Society (vols. 11-20). He is credited with raising the scholarship surrounding the Lewis and Clark expedition to a new Level. He discovered and uncovered various additional original sources, including journal of Sergeant Charles Floyd, the only member of the Corps of Discovery to die on the expedition. Prior to that, general knowledge, as well as, serious scholarship were, for the most part, clouded by legend. However, he has also been criticized, especially recently, for failing to account for prejudicial and inaccurate sources while editing the Jesuit Relations. Not satisfied in being simply an academic, he was a historian who attempted to understand history by experiencing those aspects that he could, and bringing those experiences to life. He took canoe trips on the Wisconsin, Fox and Rock Rivers, took a bicycle trip across England, and took a trip down the Ohio River in a rowboat. Thwaites was a frequent lecturer on American history at the University of Wisconsin, and he was honored with an LL.D. in 1904. He was also president of the American Library Association from 1899-1900, and in 1910 he was named president of the Mississippi Valley Historical Association. Thwaites died of heart failure in 1913.
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