This book argues that women played a much larger role in the politics of the nineteenth-century US west than has been previously acknowledged. It also argues that women gained considerable freedom in the region during that time period. Gallagher supports both of these claims with evidence in the form of individual examples and historical details. This is definitely a book for a general, rather than specialized, audience because most of the documentation for her claims can be found in the notes section at the back. Unfortunately, she does not back up all of her claims, such as that Helen Hunt Jackson's Ramona was the inspiration for legislation reforming the reservation system.

On the whole, it's an entertaining read covering a period in women's history that doesn't get much mainstream attention.

This part of history (America in the 1800s) has always interested me, and I was particularly intrigued to read about the role women played during this time. I especially appreciated how the author included the achievements of women of color as well. I was completely unaware that women could vote out West before the 19th amendment was passed! Non-fiction of this kind is usually a bit dry so I avoid it, and while this did read a bit "textbook" like at times, I was compelled enough to finish it due to the fascinating facts.

An interesting overview of the role of women in the American West from the 1830s to the early twentieth century. Here, author Winifred Gallagher uses brief glimpses into the lives of a variety of women to build her argument of what women brought to the American West. Unlike in the East and South, women traveling to the West quickly became the (often unacknowledged) equal to their male counterparts. In a hard world where plenty needed to be done, the separate spheres of “men’s” and “women’s” work disappeared in the need to survive and prosper. Over time, many of these women became the leaders of the movement for women to have the right to vote and Gallagher does a good job of charting the progress of the movement and why it was more likely to take hold in the West than in the East.

Well written and clearly carefully researched, this book provides a good introduction to women’s roles in shaping the American West and the eventual national right to vote.

I received an Arc of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Gallagher shines a well-deserved light on the women who struggled to make the West a more equitable place from the 1840s through the early 1900s. These women, of all races and diverse backgrounds and philosophies, rose above stereotypes to improve their communities, fight for social justice, and establish their civil rights, particularly the right to vote. Gallagher brings these women to life with her vivid and honest descriptions, painting a richer picture of American history.