The Confederation Congress And the Creation of the American Trans-Apalachian Settlement Policy 1783-1787

Allen (history, U. of Washington, Tacoma) closely examines this relatively little-known but very significant chapter in the development of the trans-Appalachian frontier in the first years of America's existence as a peacetime nation. He covers the idea of the wilderness and the endless opportunity of westward migration, the creation of the idea of the "national domain" in the Virginia Cession and the Ordinance of 1784, the new ideas about Indian policies, land policy and sales, the Jay-Gardoqui Negotiations, and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. He also provides an epilogue on the Federalists and the West from 1789 to 1803. Annotation 2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)