Black Hawk And Solomon Northup: Book Review

In their respective autobiographies, Black Hawk and Solomon Northup offer their perspectives on the political and economic landscape of the United States of America. Though they did not live at the exact same time, their lives provide us with much insight into American politics and the economy in from the mid-1700s to the mid-1800s. Black Hawk illustrates how the Americans were ignorant of Native American populations in the Mississippi Valley due to economic goals, while Northup similarly depicts how white American leaders were spurred on by economic incentive to increase African American slavery in the South. In his autobiography, Black Hawk begins by describing how his tribe, called the Sauk, were treated by the French, British, and Spanish colonists that preceded the Americans. Since the French needed Native American help to obtain furs, and the Native Americans wanted protection and goods from the French, the Native Americans retained a large deal of political power. Black Hawk goes on to describe how this type of relationship continued with the British, and later the Spanish after they removed the French. Though Black Hawk’s people got along well with the earlier …show more content…
As the United States grew, it sought to expand for multiple reasons. One argument for westward expansion was to provide a solution to overcrowding on the East Coast. Another, perhaps the most significant, was the desire to expand westward for economic growth. Especially following the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, Americans began to look westward for economic growth. The Mississippi River was crucial in this expansion, as it could be utilized as a means of transporting goods throughout the nation more efficiently. Westward expansion provided new land, especially farmland. As the Eastern United States became more industrialized, Americans began to look West for agricultural