Dakota
Subtitle: the story of the northern plains
By: Norman K. Risjord
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press
Published: 2012
Place of publication: Lincoln
Language: eng
Number of pages: 288
ISBN-13: 9780803269293
Subjects: History
Description: "The northern plains are often ignored by the rest of the nation or, if not, are mentioned in the context of the weather, Mount Rushmore, or the Black Hills. However, North Dakota and South Dakota have a colorful past--and present--deserving of greater recognition. Norman K. Risjord relates the remarkable histories of these two states, from the geological formation of the Great Plains to economic changes in the twenty-first century. Risjord takes the reader on a journey through the centuries detailing the first human inhabitants of the northern plains, the Lewis and Clark expedition, homesteading and railroad building, the political influence of the Progressive movement, the building of Mount Rushmore, and Wounded Knee II. Included are stories of such noteworthy characters as French explorer Vérendrye, the Lakota leader Red Cloud, North Dakota political boss Alexander McKenzie, and South Dakota Democrat George S. McGovern. Despite the shared topography and the rivers that course through both states, the diverse reactions of the two states to the challenges of the twentieth century provide opportunities for arresting comparisons. This captivating look at the Dakotas' geography, ecology, politics, and culture is essential reading for Dakotans and those interested in the rich history of this important region."--P. [4] of cover.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: A Sea of Wind-Blown Grass; title: Lords of the Northern Plains; title: Explorers and Fur Traders, 1730-1800; title: Ventures under the American Flag, 1800-1837; title: From "Desert" to Gold Mine; title: Prairie Farms and Statehood; title: The Road to Wounded Knee; title: Political Prairie Fires, 1890-1920; title: Mount Rushmore : Conceived in Prosperity, Born of Depression; title: Paths to the Present.