PDF True Yankees: The South Seas and the Discovery of American Identity (The Johns Hopkins University Studies in Historical and Political Science) by Dane A. Morrison in History

Review

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. An excellent; important readBy C. LarsonWith its publication in 2014; Morrison’s book on early Yankee seafarers trading goods and establishing contacts with counterparts in China and India garnered multiple reviewers’ accolades as well as earning a John Lyman Book Awards Honorable Mention. A True Yankee comes “highly recommended” as “a very real and highly insightful contribution;” “an excellent and highly important study;” one that is “educational; interesting; cleverly organized; and easy to read.” Morrison’s book does indeed warrant high praise; and rather than go over ground already covered by other reviewers; I’ll just add that the book is beautifully written and produced; from its cover and in-text illustrations to the paper quality to the greatly appreciated impeccable editing and proofreading.Further; A True Yankee adds new insights into the historical context of America’s long interactions with nations bordering the South Seas. With today’s focus becoming ever sharper on the evolving relationship between China and America as world powers and as trading partners; with both countries grappling anew over how to redefine their national identities at home and abroad; Morrison’s book now stands as an even more important read. Highly recommended. (Note: I purchased the hardcover edition.)1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Discovering America by Discovering the WorldBy Ted LehmannTrue Yankees: The South Seas and the Discovery of American Identity (The Johns Hopkins Studies in Historical and Political Science) by Dane A. Morrison (Johns Hopkins University Press; 2014; 280 pages; $34.95) uses the voyages; writings; and experiences of American traders and sojourners Samuel Shaw; Amasa Delano; Edmond Fanning; Harriet Low and Robert Bennett Forbes during the period 1785 through 1840 to describe the expansion of American mercantilism in the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean in support of his thesis that their voyages helped spread the web of American influence and power while establishing the newly founded country's legitimacy and to develop the distinctive qualities of behavior and belief that firmly established the American character during a period where the existence and development of America a a nation and world power was still very much in question.The five merchant world explorers in the book stand as representative of those pioneers in post-revolutionary America who sought to build their fortunes by following the China trade to build their lac (fortune) exploring far from their New England origins as they pioneered new routes to the Great South Sea; encountered new people; cultures; and economic opportunities for themselves while helping to build America's wealth back during a period of fragile economic recovery and weak international recognition. They “progressed” from seeking to trade in ginseng; cotton; seal furs and whale oils to Chinese silk; ceramics; and east Indian opium in a triangle trade similar to that between America; Africa; and the Caribbean islands in slaves. Because all five were skilled writers who shared their stories in personal journals; correspondence; and books; they established an extensive record of their activities; developing understandings of the world they functioned in; successes and failures. Morrison weaves their stories together into an intriguing period covering a little over half a century when the emerging American character was developed and established through the success of the efforts of people like them; picturing the excitement their voyages generated in the commercial and popular minds of Americans who were themselves on a voyage from being thirteen autonomous colonies toward a continent-wide nation of distinctive character and disposition. As we follow their voyages and writings; readers see the development from questing merchants following their needs and ideals to established world traders championing American exceptionalism manifested as prejudice and closed-mindedness. The remainder of this review can be found on my blog (Google: Bluegrass Ted)1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. The Story of How Early Americans Voyaged to China to Find ThemselvesBy A CustomerDane Morrison’s True Yankees explores how voyages to China and East Asia shaped new understandings of American national character between 1784 and 1840; the period of the “Old China;” or “Indies;” Trade.Morrison has written a cultural history of the early United States-China trade. He explores how the trade affected Americans’ conceptions of themselves as citizens of the United States and of the world. Morrison does not deny the primacy of the economic motives that drove Americans to trade in distant lands; but they do not play a large role in his story.True Yankees tells the stories of five American travelers who voyaged to China between 1784 and 1840. Samuel Shaw; Amasa Delano; Edmund Fanning; Harriet Low; and Robert Bennet Forbes all produced journals and/or published narratives that recounted their adventures to Asia. Morrison uses these accounts to reveal three discoveries:1. Although Yankee travelers discussed making “discoveries” as they traveled; their discoveries did not mean that they located previously unknown peoples or places. These voyagers traveled into the Arabian Sea and the Indian and Pacific Oceans three hundred years after Europeans had first plied those waters. Instead; the Yankees meant that they had “discovered” new places and contacts as Americans; they became the first citizens of the United States to sail those distant waters as Americans.2. American explorations of eastern oceans; islands; and countries contributed to the development of American character. American voyagers to the East came into contact with Asian; south African; Pacific Island; and European peoples who all had to decide what these new Americans were like: were they honorable? Were they like Europeans? Were they different; if so how?3. Just as Asian; south African; Pacific island; and European peoples had to define who Americans were as a people; so did the travelers. The voyagers Morrison discusses may have traveled to the East for economic reasons; but all participated in metaphysical voyages as well. They compared themselves and their fellow Americnas with the other peoples they encountered. Were Americans savvy in business like the British? Were they fair or arbitrary as the Chinese seemed to be? Did they act humanely and morally? Answers to these questions varied over time; but each voyager asked them.Morrison organizes his book masterfully. He divides True Yankees into two parts; five chapters; and four “interludes.” Each chapter represents the story of one Yankee traveler. The first part discusses the experiences of the first generation of Americans to travel to China while the second part explores the experiences of the second generation. Morrison uses the interludes to connect the narratives. Morrison presents the travelers’ stories in chronological order; the interludes explain what has occurred in between each voyagers’ trip to China in terms of the politics; economics; foreign policy; and national development of the United States.Although Morrison uses the “interludes” to provide context; he does not provide an adequate explanation of what caused Americans to shift from being open minded about other cultures in the first generation and closed minded in the second generation. This is a glaring omission given his otherwise strong and cogent argument. With that said; True Yankees is a well-written and engaging history book that I recommend for any history lover who would like to learn more about early American history.