Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Land

This book offers a vivid account of the bloody, corruption-laden, yet engrossing history of land speculation in America, from pre-colonial times to the election of President Thomas Jefferson.Whether they were competing to discover the "New World," escaping religious persecution, or whether they were "patriots" fighting for liberty, many men became fantastically wealthy and powerful, grabbing land while merely giving lip service to popular ideals. Friedenberg demonstrates how the relentless ...