Several hundred cross-referenced entries comprise the bulk of this chronicle of a unique and tumultuous time in American foreign relations: 1776–1861. Movers and shakers of the era, where they hailed from, what they accomplished, and who or what they were affiliated with, are in the spotlight of this in-depth look at a particularly formative 85 years in our country’s history. The introduction includes a “Historical and Geographical” summation of diplomacy from the Revolutionary War to the beginning of the Civil War. A chronology, several “who’s who” appendixes, and an extensive bibliography add value. VERDICT A comprehensive overview and stepping stone to further research, this is a good fit for libraries serving students and researchers.

Library Journal

This work will serve as a useful introduction for undergraduate U.S. diplomatic history students.

American Reference Books Annual

Allen (Concordia Univ.) presents a comprehensive overview of the often-misunderstood era of US diplomacy from 1776 through 1861. Various developments meant that rather than being an isolationist period for diplomacy, as commonly thought, the era served as the early foundation for the current international position and interests of the US. These developments included the expansion of US territories, the creation of departments (such as the Departments of State, the Interior, and the Navy), the opening of diplomatic relations with various countries in the Western Hemisphere, approval of numerous treaties, evidence of the Manifest Destiny concept, several wars, and the formulation of general diplomatic policies. The main sections of the book are the chronology, an introduction, approximately 550 entries, appendixes, and an extensive bibliography. The chronology is extremely useful and succinct. Allen's introductory essay is a pleasant, well-written US history refresher. The entries themselves cover the most important people, wars, departments, country relationships, concepts, expansions, treaties, and newspapers of the period. Some entries also pull the most important diplomatic threads out of large subjects, such as the Revolutionary War. This dictionary even offers an entry on the diplomatic dress required to represent the US abroad. The appendixes cover the important leaders of the time, including the secretaries of state, war, and the navy and the US diplomatic corps by country. The bibliography is generally organized by country relationship and time period. Overall, this useful reference title is a welcome addition to this publisher's suite of historical dictionaries. It is the fourth Scarecrow volume on the basic eras of US diplomacy. Summing Up: Recommended.

Choice Reviews

Dr Allen has written a useful book on an area not very well served by other dictionaries.

Reference Reviews