National Bestseller

Winner of the National Book Award 2023 for Nonfiction • Finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize 2023 in History • Winner of the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award 2024 for Nonfiction • Winner of the Mark Lynton History Prize 2024

Recognized as the best book of 2023 by New Yorker, Esquire, Publishers Weekly, Barnes & Noble

One of the Notable Books of 2023 according to The New York Times • Notable Nonfiction Work by The Washington Post for 2023 • “Book We Love” by NPR for 2023

“Brilliant and comprehensive. . . . In the overall summary of the book, the key points of U.S. history gain new meaning.” —Kathleen DuVal, Wall Street Journal

“In American historical narratives, Native Americans are often considered incidental—either obstacles to overcome or part of a parallel narrative. Blackhawk. . . [shows] that indigenous communities have been an integral part of American history from the beginning.” —Washington Post Book World, “Books to Read in 2023”

A comprehensive and necessary retelling of U.S. history that acknowledges Native Americans are essential for understanding the evolution of modern America. The most persistent feature of U.S. history is the presence of Native Americans, yet most stories focus on Europeans and their descendants. This long-standing practice of ignoring Native history is changing, as a new generation of historians insists that any complete American history must engage with the struggle, survival, and resurgence of American Indian nations.

Ned Blackhawk weaves together five centuries of Native and non-Native stories, from Spanish colonial exploration to the rise of Indian self-determination in the late twentieth century. In this transformative synthesis, he shows that:

• European colonization in the 17th century was never a predetermined success;
• Native national communities helped shape the crisis of the English empire;
• The first shots of the American Revolution were triggered by Indian affairs in the interior;
• California Indians, targeted by federally funded militias, were among the first victims of the Civil War;
• The Union victory permanently reshaped Native communities in the West;
• 20th-century reservation activists transformed American law and policy.

Blackhawk's retelling of U.S. history acknowledges the enduring power, agency, and survival of Native Americans, offering a more accurate narrative of the United States and revealing the diverse meanings of America anew.

Pages: 616, Year of Publication: 0109, Dimensions: 15.6x15.6cm