|
|
|
Review
| American Railroads in the Nineteenth Century, by Augustus J. Veenendaal. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 2003. 206 pages. $44.95, cloth.
|
| This book is part of the Greenwood Guides to Historic Events, 1500–1900 series. It and the others in the series focus on trends and events during those five centuries that ushered in the modern, interdependent world. Economics, imperialism, warfare, technology, new ideologies, and scientific developments all receive attention. In these volumes the editors try to present data that will enable students to understand the underpinnings of urban, industrial, and multinational societies as they now operate. This volume examines issues surrounding the development of railroads in the United States during the nineteenth century. Designed for classroom use, it includes a chronology, seven topical prose chapters, fifteen biographies of individuals who played significant roles in railroad development, twenty-four primary documents, and an annotated bibliography. |
1
|
|
Few could dispute the centrality of railroading in nineteenth century national growth and development. The new transportation system allowed Eastern businesses to expand their internal markets, encouraged the growth of major urban centers, allowed for increased speed and ease of movement through the country, and helped to establish as truly national economy. In presenting material related to these issues, the various parts of the book offer a wide variety of information related to railroad building, financing, impact, and regulation during the chosen century. The author/editor has written clearly most of the time, giving succinct discussions of each topic into which he blends references to the appended biographies and documents. As a result one sees a tidy package of ideas and data that focus on significant issues in American history. |
2
|
|
In their "Foreword" the series editors state that the volumes in this series are "designed to serve as resources for student research." (p. viii) As such they are aimed at students in high school and lower division college courses. Certainly students in any secondary school course that demands the use and analysis of primary materials can profit from this material. Others doing projects for National History Day may also find the material useful. It can be used in a variety of courses that focus on pre-twentieth century U.S. history, but clearly will be most beneficial for students doing independent research and reading projects. The editors hope that this material will foster "a more sophisticated understanding of the events and debates," (viii) surrounding the topic. That seems possible, but calls for substantial teacher effort to find the threads that tie the people, events, and ideas together. The biographies give human touches to what otherwise might appear as somewhat unappealing economic and technological development. They show connections between the ideas of inventors and the efforts of financiers seeking to build a transportation system. At the same time they and the other parts of the book demonstrate the close connections between the railroad industry and national economic conditions, particularly financial panics, labor unrest, and farm discontent. In short, they provide data for economic, political and social history. |
3
|
|
There are some uneven qualities in the book. The twenty-three documents seem to lack much coherence. They range from technological developments such as the American sleeping car, to legislation including the 1862 Pacific Railroad Act, or letters to the President concerning federal regulation of the industry. Taken alone, most of these are both interesting and useful, but often they bear little relationship to each other. It is unlikely that one or two documents on a particular topic will be helpful in launching a student's research project. Some of the seven narrative chapters appear a bit technical for secondary students, or even their teachers. Particularly chapters two on technology, chapter three on financing, and chapter six on monopoly and regulation may be somewhat arid. It is likely that instructors will be challenged when working with such material. That is not to say that this and the other books in the series will not be useful. If the teachers prepare with care, there are plenty of data and ideas here to help students to develop or polish their analytical and research skill. |
4
|
| | |
| University of Arizona |
Roger L. Nichols |
|
Content in the History Cooperative database is intended for personal, noncommercial use only. You may not reproduce, publish, distribute, transmit, participate in the transfer or sale of, modify, create derivative works from, display, or in any way exploit the History Cooperative database in whole or in part without the written permission of the copyright holder.
|