Dakota

The Story of the Northern Plains

Norman K Risjord author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:University of Nebraska Press

Published:1st Jan '13

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

Dakota cover

North Dakota and South Dakota have a colourful past - and present - deserving of greater recognition

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. 

"Risjord's Dakota should be seen as both a serious survey of the neglected story of the American midlands and a justification for the greater number of more detailed treatments of the American Midwest and its development within the broader story of American history."—Jon K. Lauck, Annals of Iowa

ISBN: 9780803269293

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: unknown

288 pages