To Be Men of Business: The Origins of Chickasaw Capitalism, 1700-1840

Capitalism during the American colonial era was an economic system known primarily for dispossessing and exploiting Indigenous peoples. Some Indigenous nations, however, learned to use its primary features—wealth accumulation, private investment, and a globalized marketplace—to strengthen their families and defend their communities. The Chickasaws of the American Southeast exemplified these Indigenous capitalists.

To Be Men of Business examines the Chickasaw Nation’s education in business an...