The American Indian in Western Legal Thought: The Discourses of Conquest / Edition 1

by Robert A. Williams

Overview

Exploring the history of contemporary legal thought on the rights and status of the West's colonized indigenous tribal peoples, Williams here traces the development of the themes that justified and impelled Spanish, English, and American conquests of the New World.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195080025
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	11/26/1992
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	368
Product dimensions:	6.18(w) x 9.27(h) x 1.00(d)

Editorial Reviews

"An important book because it identifies and explains the intellectual foundations that continue to make it possible to justify keeping the Indians on the outside looking in....A stunning revelation....Rarely has the reviewer seen such a thorough examination of such a diverse body of historical documents as Williams offers in support of the development of his analysis."—Texas Law Review

"The best and most comprehensive treatment of the legal context in which the American Indian is enmeshed."—American Anthropologist

"Extraordinarily insightful....The scope of the book is sweeping."—Reconstruction

"A highly readable, thought-provoking work that provides an excellent overview of the issues and major historical arguments in this field. It is definitely a must read for anyone interested in this subject."—Michigan Law Review

"A sophisticated analysis of Western legal thought and its application to native peoples of the Americas from 1500 to 1800....Persons interested in understanding European intellectual trends and their application to non-Western cultures cannot afford to overlook this book. It is comprehensive, based on methodical textual analysis, and judiciously argued without being a mere diatribe against nameless villians."—American Indian Quarterly

From the Publisher