The period from 1789 to 1849 is one of the most eventful in U.S. history. It includes the growth of the United States from the first Congress, through the War of 1812, the Mexican War, and the territorial expansion of the United States. Through nearly 4000 annotated entries, this bibliography provides references to New England and New Englanders in U.S. government publications issued during that period. It traces the origin of many of the social, fiscal, and foreign policies that were instrumental in the development of the country and whose consequences still affect us today. It encompasses the development of the postal system and the Treasury Department, the distribution of the public lands, the exploration of the West, systems of defense and fortification, boundary disputes, the annexation of Texas, and the origin of the divisive differences between the South and North over tariffs and slavery. During these first 30 congresses, the United States government published and distributed a wealth of primary and secondary source material documenting these historical events and issues.
Historians researching the history of New England and its peoples can find a variety of information in these publications on New England topics and concerns. Speeches from New England Representatives and Senators also offer their views and the views of their constituents on the regional and national issues of the day. Included in this bibliography are references in published government documents by and to the New England states, covering Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Speeches by congressmen from these states, memorials and petitions voicing the opinion of the people of these states, and congressional and executive reports, documents, and references specifically about the states and their concerns are cited. Each citation is accompanied by a brief annotation. The volume has chapters on each state, and within each chapter, the entries are arranged chronologically by Congress and Session. Thus the reader can browse through a chapter to get a sense of the issues facing a state during the period, or can consult the extensive indexes to locate specific information more precisely.