An American Genocide: The United States and the California Indian Catastrophe, 1846-1873 (The Lamar Series in Western History)

**The first full account of the government-sanctioned genocide of California Indians under United States rule** Between 1846 and 1873, California’s Indian population plunged from perhaps 150,000 to 30,000. Benjamin Madley is the first historian to uncover the full extent of the slaughter, the involvement of state and federal officials, the taxpayer dollars that supported the violence, indigenous resistance, who did the killing, and why the killings ended. This deeply researched book is a comprehensive and chilling history of an American genocide. Madley describes pre-contact California and precursors to the genocide before explaining how the Gold Rush stirred vigilante violence against California Indians. He narrates the rise of a state-sanctioned killing machine and the broad societal, judicial, and political support for genocide. Many participated: vigilantes, volunteer state militiamen, U.S. Army soldiers, U.S. congressmen, California governors, and others. The state and federal governments spent at least $1,700,000 on campaigns against California Indians. Besides evaluating government officials’ culpability, Madley considers why the slaughter constituted genocide and how other possible genocides within and beyond the Americas might be investigated using the methods presented in this groundbreaking book. Between 1846 And 1873, California's Indian Population Plunged From Perhaps 150,000 To 30,000. Benjamin Madley Is The First Historian To Uncover The Full Extent Of The Slaughter, The Involvement Of State And Federal Officials, The Taxpayer Dollars That Supported The Violence, Indigenous Resistance, Who Did The Killing, And Why The Killings Ended. This Deeply Researched Book Is A Comprehensive And Chilling History Of An American Genocide. Madley Describes Pre-contact California And Precursors To The Genocide Before Explaining How The Gold Rush Stirred Vigilante Violence Against California Indians. He Narrates The Rise Of A State-sanctioned Killing Machine And The Broad Societal, Judicial, And Political Support For Genocide. Many Participated: Vigilantes, Volunteer State Militiamen, U.s. Army Soldiers, U.s. Congressmen, California Governors, And Others. The State And Federal Governments Spent At Least $1,700,000 On Campaigns Against California Indians.0besides Evaluating Government Officials' Culpability, Madley Considers Why The Slaughter Constituted Genocide And How Other Possible Genocides Within And Beyond The Americas Might Be Investigated Using The Methods Presented In This Groundbreaking Book. Introduction -- California Indians Before 1846 -- Prelude To Genocide : March 1846-march 1848 -- Gold, Immigrants, And Killers From Oregon : March 1848-may 1850 -- Turning Point : The Killing Campaigns Of December 1849-may 1850 -- Legislating Exclusion And Vulnerability : 1846-1853 -- Rise Of The Killing Machine : Militias And Vigilantes, April 1850-december 1854 -- Perfecting The Killing Machine : December 1854-march 1861 -- The Civil War In California And Its Aftermath : March 1861-1871 -- Conclusion -- Appendixes. 1: Reports Of Nonspecific Numbers Of California Indians Killed, 1846-1873 ; 2: Reports Of Fewer Than Five California Indians Killed, 1846-1873 ; 3: Reports Of Five Or More California Indians Killed, 1846-1873 ; 4: Reports Of Non-indians Killed By California Indians, 1846-1873 ; 5: Selected Massacres With Contested Death Tolls, 1846-1866 ; 6: Major Volunteer California State Militia Expeditions, 1850-1861 ; 7: Reports Of California Indians Killed By Us Army Soldiers And Their Auxiliaries, 1846-1873 ; 8: The United Nations Genocide Convention. Benjamin Madley. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 629-666) And Index. The first full account of the government-sanctioned genocide of California Indians under United States rule Winner of the 2016 Los Angeles Times Book Award for Historyand a New York Times Book Review Editors Choice Gruesomely thorough. . . . Others have described some of these campaigns, but never in such strong terms and with so much blame placed directly on the United States government.Alexander Nazaryan, Newsweek Between 1846 and 1873, Californias Indian population plunged from perhaps 150,000 to 30,000. Benjamin Madley is the first historian to uncover the full extent of the slaughter, the involvement of state and federal officials, the taxpayer dollars that supported the violence, indigenous resistance, who did the killing, and why the killings ended. This deeply researched book is a comprehensive and chilling history of an American genocide. Madley describes pre-contact California and precursors to the genocide before explaining how the Gold Rush stirred vigilante violence against California Indians. He narrates the rise of a state-sanctioned killing machine and the broad societal, judicial, and political support for genocide. Many vigilantes, volunteer state militiamen, U.S. Army soldiers, U.S. congressmen, California governors, and others. The state and federal governments spent at least $1,700,000 on campaigns against California Indians. Besides evaluating government officials culpability, Madley considers why the slaughter constituted genocide and how other possible genocides within and beyond the Americas might be investigated using the methods presented in this groundbreaking book. Between 1846 and 1873, California's Indian population plunged from perhaps 150,000 to 30,000. Benjamin Madley is the first historian to uncover the full extent of the slaughter, the involvement of state and federal officials, the taxpayer dollars that supported the violence, indigenous resistance, who did the killing, and why the killings ended. This deeply researched book is a comprehensive and chilling history of an American genocide. Madley describes pre-contact California and precursors to the genocide before explaining how the Gold Rush stirred vigilante violence against California Indians. He narrates the rise of a state-sanctioned killing machine and the broad societal, judicial, and political support for genocide. Many participated: vigilantes, volunteer state militiamen, U.S. Army soldiers, U.S. congressmen, California governors, and others. Ultimately, the state and federal governments spent at least $1,700,000 on campaigns against California Indians. Besides evaluating government officials' culpability, Madley considers why the slaughter constituted genocide and how other possible genocides within and beyond the Americas might be investigated using the methods presented in this groundbreaking book. Contains primary source material. "Between 1846 and 1873, California's Indian population plunged from perhaps 150,000 to 30,000. Benjamin Madley is the first historian to uncover the full extent of the slaughter, the involvement of state and federal officials, the taxpayer dollars that supported the violence, indigenous resistance, who did the killing, and why the killings ended. This deeply researched book is a comprehensive and chilling history of an American genocide. Madley describes pre-contact California and precursors to the genocide before explaining how the Gold Rush stirred vigilante violence against California Indians. He narrates the rise of a state-sanctioned killing machine and the broad societal, judicial, and political support for genocide. Many participated: vigilantes, volunteer state militiamen, U.S. Army soldiers, U.S. congressmen, California governors, and others. Ultimately, the state and federal governments spent at least $1,700,000 on campaigns against California Indians. Besides evaluating government officials' culpability, Madley considers why the slaughter constituted genocide and how other possible genocides within and beyond the Americas might be investigated using the methods presented in this groundbreaking book"--Publisher's description Between 1846 and 1873, California's Indian population plunged from perhaps 150,000 to 30,000. Benjamin Madley is the first historian to uncover the full extent of the slaughter, the involvement of state and federal officials, the taxpayer dollars that supported the violence, indigenous resistance, who did the killing, and why the killings ended. This deeply researched book is a comprehensive and chilling history of an American genocide. Â Â Madley describes pre-contact California and precursors to the genocide before explaining how the Gold Rush stirred vigilante violence against California Indians. He narrates the rise of a state-sanctioned killing machine and the broad societal, judicial, and political support for genocide. Many participated: vigilantes, volunteer state militiamen, U.S. Army soldiers, U.S. congressmen, California governors, and others. The state and federal governments spent at least $1,700,000 on campaigns against California Indians. Besides evaluating government officials'culpability, Madley considers why the slaughter constituted genocide and how other possible genocides within and beyond the Americas might be investigated using the methods presented in this groundbreaking book.