White Enough to Be American?

“Basson makes an important contribution to our understanding of how constructions of race helped define the boundaries of American national identity in the late nineteenth century. Her illuminating case studies of mixed-race indigenous political activists make clear that as the United States expanded territorially, a willingness to uphold white supremacy and the primacy of private property became increasingly crucial to definitions of American national identity.” — Renee Romano, Wesleyan University

“There is a considerable body of scholarship dedicated to the question of the legal standing of Indian nations through the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. This study fills the void that exists around our understandings of cultural ideas about property, ‘race,’ indigeneity, and cross-cultural relationships. More broadly, Basson makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of how the existence of indigenous people of mixed descent influenced mainstream understandings of the United States as a nation.” — Patricia Grimshaw, University of Melbourne

“Moves us beyond this now-conventional focus on mixing between whites and African Americans, calling our attention to the ways in which indigenous, mixed-race populations and territories have long shaped American notions of state and nation.” — American Historical Review

“Basson . . . [does not] lose sight of the important national story she has to tell about the porousness of U.S. racial boundaries.” — Journal of American History

“An expertly researched and well-written monograph. . . . A rewarding examination of a complex and fascinating topic.” — South Dakota History

“Offers [a] new perspective on racial thinking and white supremacy.” — Nations and Nationalism

“Presents a compelling discussion of the juxtaposition of race and citizenship. . . . Demonstrates that the racial question in the US has been and continues to be one that is more complex than merely black and white.” — CHOICE

“Provides a rich, in-depth analysis of racism in the American nation and state. . . . The theoretical and empirical contributions of this book extend far beyond the . . . period and cases being examined.” — Law and Politics Book Review

“Provides a solid foundation. . . . Appropriate for academic libraries.” — Multicultural Review

“Presents a set of encounters between racially mixed indigenous people and the U.S. government that illuminates the construction of citizenship, nationhood, and race. . . . Offers universally instructive lessons for students of political science, U.S. history, and American Indian studies.” — Journal of American Ethnic History