The Winning of the West, Vol. 1 (Classic Reprint): An Account of the Exploration and Settlement of Our Country From the Alleghanies to the Pacific

by Theodore Roosevelt

Excerpt from The Winning of the West, Vol. 1: An Account of the Exploration and Settlement of Our Country From the Alleghanies to the Pacific

Jackson did not permit any red tape or organization routine to stand in the way. He went on and did the thing which in his judgment was to prove of service for the country.

A little smile went around the table, as we remembered the recent action of the present Executive in taking possession of the Panama Canal Zone.

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Genres: History, Westerns, Nonfiction, American History

593 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., also known as T.R., and to the public (but never to friends and family) as Teddy, was the twenty-sixth President of the United States, and a leader of the Republican Party and of the Progressive Movement.

He fathered Alice Roosevelt Longworth, a daughter.

He became the youngest President in United States history at the age of 42. He served in many roles including Governor of New York, historian, naturalist, explorer, author, and soldier (posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 2001 for his role at the Battle of San Juan Hill in the Spanish-American War).

Roosevelt is most famous for his personality: his energy, his vast range of interests and achievements, his model of masculinity, and his "cowboy" persona.

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating read, and it offers a very different perspective that is not often shared by the "sentimental historian", as Roosevelt would describe it, in modernity. It is a perspective that surprisingly offers great detail and respect for many of the tribes that are highlighted in this westward history. Yet, it is profoundly unapologetic. Roosevelt obviously favors the settlers, and it shows in his writing, but I was surprised by how heroically he would describe many of the tribes and well-known Indians of this period. Of course, I did not know what to expect, but it was a surprise nonetheless.

Roosevelt writes remarkably well and this book has a timeless quality in its writing (besides the many names Roosevelt uses that are unacceptable today). Even though it was published well over a century ago, it still reads smoothly today. Furthermore, this book does much to describe the mindset of the settlers as they migrated west. Many who consider the displacement of Native Americans today do not take a step back and consider why the settlers considered the Natives to be an enemy (in some cases). Roosevelt examines letters and oral histories that describe the motives of some of the settlers and does much to explain the actions of these groups. It does not justify anything, but it explains it. Importantly, the main theme of this history is that the move westward was so fluid and so nuanced that it is dangerous for the sentimental historian to paint it with broad strokes. I think that this point is incredibly relevant today.

As Roosevelt writes, "Looking back, it is easy to say that much of the wrong-doing could have been prevented; but if we examine the facts to find out the truth, not to establish a theory, we are bound to admit that the struggle was really one that could not possibly have been avoided. The sentimental historians speak as if the blame had been all ours...For instance, there were a dozen tribes, all of whom hunted in Kentucky, and fought each other there, all of whom had equally good titles to the soil, and not one of whom acknowledged the right of any other; as a matter of fact they had therein no right, save the right of the strongest. The land no more belonged to them than it belonged to Boon and the white hunters who first visited it...."

A great, well written history, from the point of view of man with strong convictions.

[Jeff Thomson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a lot of history is packed into Roosevelt's Winning of the West series. It is of course a white man's historical interpretation of Native Americans and their history regarding interactions with the United States, but TR includes quite a bit of history about the tribes, what lands they occupied, and even what type of sports and leisure the tribes were known to partake in. The book itself, though extremely informative, is obviously pretty racist, with TR's world view of Barbarism and Civilization present throughout the whole book - painfully put forth by his dropping of the word savages quite a bit. Nonetheless, an excellent read.

[Josiah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first volume of The Winning of the West describes the beginnings of the westward expansion by the pioneers right before and during the Revolutionary war. This book tells of the exploring of Daniel Boone into nowadays Kentucky that would become a settlement and then a county of Virginia. It tells of the birth of the Watauga common-wealth and of such men as John Sevier and James Robertson who played a tremendous part in this. It also tells of the many different tribes of Indians and their chiefs, from the Iroquois to the Cherokee, and gives a summary of the war that would be known later as Lord Dunmores. This book is also worth the read because it shows the opinions of Roosevelt and many other Americans at the time on this topic. Further this book also gives the readers examples of what the Indians and Pioneers daily life consisted of. Overall a very good read.

[David Kessler · Rating 4 out of 5]

A most interesting story, for it not history in any sense. Largely conjecture on Roosevelt's part and with a very strong bias. It covers the moving west from the eastern coast over the mountain range into territory which today is Kentucky and a bit of Tennessee. You get a real sense of the stuggles it to to carve out from timbered land , open land for the planting of corn and the constant need to secure food from the land. A very tough life with constant battles between the backwoodsmen(and family ) against the Native Americans. I am ready to read Volume 2.

[Diana Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found that this book was quite interesting and educational. I have read some of the comments and I won't pretend that I can vouch for it being completely accurate but the author did give a complete accounting on his sources. It may contain what his opinion is for the most part but I enjoyed this read and look forward to reading more of the books in this four part series.

[Mark Mears · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was fascinating to read the detail and impressions of my favorite President on such a wide subject.

Already impressed with the frenetic pace of his life, I am amazed at a mind which could collect, process and put down so much information while doing all of the other things he had done to this point in his life.

[Ross Cohen · Rating 4 out of 5]

TR was a man of his time, and his views on the white conquest of native lands reflects his age. So, while "The Winning of the West" cannot be called a balanced history, it stands as a remarkably-written paean to the American West of Roosevelt's mind.

[Stephen Masri · Rating 5 out of 5]

not this version

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

read this back in January but forgot to review. it was good but not great, would not want to read again, a bit dry

[Joseph Raborg · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good history of the West which does not take the part of the American Indians. Too many histories have a bias towards them, and it is good to read one which sides with the American pioneers. This book highlights another important facet about the American Revolutionary War: the British wanted to restrict American expansion into the West.

It is very interesting to read about the different American Indians and how the colonists related with them. The writing style is great and this history is an easy page turner.

[Roger W.]

I'm reading an original printing that belonged to my Dad, having by chance learned what a multifaceted character T. Roosevelt was. So far it's an interesting read but quite difficult, as his views on aboriginal peoples are horrendous to modern sensibilities.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating read!