A very well-researched monograph with an intriguing argument, one which challenges existing narratives about the motivations of settler colonialism. Rather than a mad rush for land and occupation, settlers and colonial governments found it difficult to get settlers to actually settle. Both the British and American governments, before and after the American Revolution put policies into place to fuel desire for settlement. The process required a cultural shift, but also strategic economic and financial maneuvers.

Blaakman reveals to readers the economic mechanics of how the Doctrine of Discovery was implemented.

I hesitate to provide a full academic review here; a much fuller reading of the material is required on my part.

This engaging and informative book explores the unprecedented land speculation frenzy in the early United States. Patriotic leaders pinned their revolutionary success on seizing and selling Native land to fund war and promote a republican society. Enterprising merchants and financiers lobbied for massive, discounted transfers with the hope of making huge profits. Though the bubble burst, leaving many speculators bankrupt, their visionary schemes had enacted a distinct settler colonialism that turned Native lands into abstract commodities, making Native dispossession foundational to the American concept of destiny.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

"Speculation Nation: Land Mania in the Revolutionary American Republic" by Michael A. Blaakman provides a comprehensive analysis of the land speculation phenomenon during the late 18th century in the United States. The book explores the political, economic, and social implications of the mania, tracing its roots to the Revolutionary era and its lasting impact on the nation.

Blaakman's examination of the connections between land speculation, state formation, Native dispossession, and the development of American capitalism challenges conventional narratives and offers new perspectives on the American Revolution and its aftermath.

'Speculation Nation’ provides a nuanced understanding of the complex relationship between land, power, and economic systems in the early years of the United States.

Speculation has always seemed, at least to me, as a great missing piece of the American story. Blaakman puts this development in the context of settler colonialism, which adds a lot of explanation to why it became so prevalent, but also speaks to current trends in historiography. Americans have always had a steady fascination with owning land, and this book manages to trace that history through America's early days.

Speculation is viewed partially as a reaction to the Proclamation of 1763. Blaakman situates it as part of a conflict between the British crown and natives. In his view, part of the conflict that had arisen on the North American continent was over land ownership and the right to parcel it out.

Speculation further explains debt and currency issues that arose during the early years of the Republic. The situation after the war, as described by historians, is dominated by politics and the Constitutional Convention, but this book makes clear that there was a pervasive anxiety about land rights that was on the back of many Americans' minds. The instability of the 1790s is tied to the debate over how this land would be doled out and how the buying and selling of such land would be organized.

The biggest strength of the book is Part 2. Oliver Phelps, a rather unknown American, and his connect to speculation is detailed. Other lesser known Americans also make an appearance and drives Blaakman's narrative. It is a great piece of social history.

In all, Speculation Nation focuses on questions of land ownership, but ties them into the question of American identity. Without a doubt, it adds nuance to our understanding of the early decades of American history and our founding

This was a very competently written book.

It was well reasearched, entertaining to read, and did not shy away from using strong and blunt language where appropriate when talking about colonial relations, an issue that often occurs with this sort of topic (consistently using the word invasion, for instance, rather than conquest or settlement.)

It covered lots of things I had not previously encountered in classes on and research into the subject, all very well cited.

It is laid out in an easily comprehensible manner, with sensible sections that build a coherent narrative. The use of original quotations is handled well, and they are present in almost every place where one could be wanted, and only rarely where not.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone curious on the subject.


I received an e-ARC through net galley.

A look into the formative years of America and helps to answer the question of how the 'settlement' process began. It's at times a sad read, as Native Americans were routinely forced off their land in the name of expansion or greed, but it's an important story to tell.