A Half-Century of Conflict - Volume II

"A Half-Century of Conflict - Volume II" by Francis Parkman is a historical account written during the late 19th century. The work focuses on the European colonial struggles and the interactions between French explorers and Native American tribes in North America, particularly highlighting the period from 1697 to 1761. It delves into the exploration of the Mississippi River and the quest for the Pacific Ocean, showcasing the adventures and challenges faced by figures such as Le Sueur, Bourgmont, and La Vérendrye amidst the backdrop of imperial competition between France and England. The opening of this volume introduces various French explorers who ventured into the West, motivated by discovery and trade opportunities. It details how figures like Le Sueur embarked on expeditions into territories inhabited by Native tribes such as the Sioux and Comanches. The segment illustrates the tension between the desire for exploration and the hardships faced, including the struggle for alliances with local tribes, the challenges posed by the wilderness, and the impact of European rivalries on these endeavors. It sets the stage for the broader narrative of exploration and conflict that defines this historical period. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Francis Parkman Jr. was an American historian, best known as author of The Oregon Trail: Sketches of Prairie and Rocky-Mountain Life and his monumental seven-volume France and England in North America. These works are still valued as historical sources and as literature. He was also a leading horticulturist, briefly a professor of horticulture at Harvard University and author of several books on the topic. Parkman wrote essays opposed to legal voting for women that continued to circulate long after his death. Parkman was a trustee of the Boston Athenæum from 1858 until his death in 1893.