Minnesota: A History

by William E. Lass

A comprehensive history of a state thought by many to be the most livable. Minnesota evolved from many cultures. By the time the territory was formed in 1849, the first European contacts were nearly two centuries old. When Minnesota was admitted to the union in 1858, only about one-fourth of its area was occupied by white settlers. In this volume, William Lass tells the story of Minnesota from its beginnings to the present with attention to people's adaptation to Minnesota's oftentimes harsh environment. He relates the persistence and change in the traditional frontier businesses in the twentieth century and describes recent developments in Minnesota society, including rapidly increasing metropolitanism, environmental concerns, and the resurgence of conservatism in politics. Minnesota's somewhat unique political history, which featured farm protest movements and the ultimate creation of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, is also discussed. This history not only provides descriptions of the essential events of Minnesota's past, but also offers an interpretation of major trends and characteristics of the state and its distinctiveness within the context of the nation's story.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History

Hardcover

First published June 1, 1983

Reviews

[Beth Cato · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a new resident and I wanted to learn more about the state's history. I picked this up at the local indie bookstore, Fair Trade Books. This book had its first edition released to coincide with the USA bicentennial in 1976, with this slightly updated edition released in the early 1980s. I expected it to be largely white male focused like most texts of the period, and it was, but it gave a much more analytical view of the Sioux War than I anticipated. That is good. While the text was often dry, it was still a fast read, and one that was filled with interested facts. There were several things I paused to share with my husband. I think this is a good book to keep around as I'll probably write about the state at some point, but I'll seek out more modern, comprehensive books.

[Stephen Hausmann · Rating 1 out of 5]

Truly a garbage history book

[Tim Berntsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25/5

[Eric Ellefson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little dry, but informative. I acquired this copy from my grandpa - it's from the 1970s. I was more interested in the older history of Minnesota, so it worked well. If you're looking for more up-to-date information, you probably should invest in the newer edition.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative about Minnesota and it's history. I read this book for recreation when I missed my home state! :-)

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part of Norton's "States of the Nation" series published for the Bicentennial. A nice concise way to learn a state's history up to the early '70s.