Angol
The northern plains are often ignored by the rest of the nation or if not are mentioned in the context of the weather Mount Rushmore or the Black Hills. However North Dakota and South Dakota have a colourful pasta"and presenta"deserving of greater recognition.Norman K. Risjord relates the remarkable histories of these two states from the geological formation of the Great Plains to economic changes in the twenty-first century. Risjord takes the reader on a journey through the centuries detailing the first human inhabitants of the northern plains the Lewis and Clark expedition homesteading and railroad building the political influence of the Progressive movement the building of Mount Rushmore and Wounded Knee II. Included are stories of such noteworthy characters as French explorer VA(c)rendrye the Lakota leader Red Cloud North Dakota political boss Alexander McKenzie and South Dakota Democrat George S. McGovern.Despite the shared topography and the rivers that course through both states the diverse reactions of the two states to the challenges of the twentieth century provide opportunities for arresting comparisons. This captivating look at the Dakotasa' geography ecology politics and culture is essential reading for Dakotans and those interested in the rich history of this important region.
