In this newsletter:

• Personal Update
• The "United States Expansion" Book Launch
• And there's more...

We are aboard the American Symphony cruising the glorious Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers. After enjoying a spectacular concert at the Grand Ole Opry, we are savoring the area's beautiful scenery. It was hot the first couple of days, but autumn has finally arrived with high temperatures in the 70s. Ahhh.

Thank You for a Great Book Launch!

A big thank you to everyone who helped celebrate last Saturday’s release of United States Expansion: How Deals, Conflicts, and Decisions Shaped a Nation. Whether you purchased a copy, shared the announcement, or simply sent along your encouragement, we truly appreciate your support.

We are especially pleased to report that United States Expansion soared into the top 300 of all U.S. History books on Amazon, while also reaching #2 in the Antebellum History category! With so many history books available, it’s exciting to see this new title finding an audience so quickly.

You might wonder why a book about American territorial expansion would appear in a category devoted to antebellum history. The term antebellum simply means “before the war,” generally referring to the decades preceding the American Civil War. And those were some of the most consequential years of American expansion.

The Louisiana Purchase doubled the nation’s claimed territory in 1803. Florida became an American possession through diplomacy with Spain. Texas joined the Union, the Oregon boundary was settled with Britain, and war with Mexico brought vast new territories into the United States.

All of this happened before the Civil War began in 1861. In fact, arguments over whether slavery would spread into these newly acquired lands helped drive the nation toward that conflict.

Of course, the story of American expansion continued well beyond the Civil War, from the purchase of Alaska to the acquisition of overseas territories.

Remember, the book is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook editions. If you haven't gotten yours yet, CLICK HERE.​

It’s been especially rewarding to bring these stories together in one book, and I’m grateful to everyone who has helped give it such an encouraging start.

But in a way, there is more to the story...

As I researched United States Expansion, I found myself thinking about another side of the American story. Acquiring territory helped determine the size and shape of the United States. But how did those events and others shape a shared sense of who Americans perceived themselved to be?

Think about the enormous crowds and months long national tour that welcomed Revolutionary War hero Marquis de Lafayette back to America in 1824. Or the excitement surrounding the completion of the transcontinental railroad. Or the millions who visited spectacular international expositions to marvel at American ingenuity and imagine what the future might hold.

I wondered why these events captured the nation’s imagination. What did Americans hope to celebrate, demonstrate, or prove? And what can these gatherings tell us about the changing meaning of being American. I began to realize that United States expansion and those public events were two sides to the development of the nation -- in territorial expansion and development of a national identity. I soon realized I was researching and writing two connected books. We are in final editing of that second book and next Saturday, I’ll reveal the title and cover, and introduce you to the stories behind this companion book.

ONE QUICK AND EASY REQUEST

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As always, you can enjoy many additional features and historical adventures unlocked at our Patreon Member Supporter website. Or consider joining to explore the hundreds of articles and videos we've written and created there, plus more highlights of our travels and studies. To visit our member site, CLICK HERE.​

Have a great week!

Bill and Laura