ABSTRACT
I wish to thank the many friends and colleagues who helped me to write this book. Series editor Mark C. Carnes has been a mentor since I first worked with him, over a decade ago, while I was in graduate school. Mark and Kevin Ohe, my editor at Routledge, gave steadfast encouragement, and their many suggestions on drafts of this book have sharpened its focus. Malcolm Swanston and Elsa Gibert gave valuable advice to keep the text congruent with the maps. Andrew Bailis, production editor, provided much-needed assistance, and Norma McLemore copy-edited expertly with a journalist's eye. Alan Brinkley and John A. Garraty, as always, gave expert guidance, directing me to sources and challenging me to present specific critical ideas. I gratefully acknowledge Dowling College's Long Range Planning and Development Committee, which granted course releases that helped me to devote more time to research and writing. Special thanks go to Michael S. Green of the Community College of Southern Nevada. Mike has been an inspiration since graduate school, a friend who has tirelessly answered my questions on history and listened to my ideas when I needed an audience. Mike took time away from his own research and teaching to review this manuscript and made many insightful comments to correct its errors and improve its flow.
