Globalization of the United States, 1789-1861

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Morse, Jedidiah. The American Geography; or, A View of the Present Situation of the United States of America. Elizabeth Town: Shepard Kollock, 1789.

Jedidiah Morse. The American Geography; or, A View of the Present Situation of the United States of America. Elizabeth Town: Shepard Kollock, 1789. p. [v].

Declaring intellectual independence from Europe, Morse imagined that American geographical knowledge would grow in sophistication as the nation grew in size.

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So imperfect are all the accounts of America hitherto published, even by those who once exclusively possessed the best means of information, that from them very little knowledge of this country can be acquired. Europeans have been the sole writers of American Geography, and have too often suffered fancy to supply the place of facts, and thus have led their readers into errors, while they professed to aim at removing their ignorance. But since the United States have become an independent nation, and have risen into Empire, it would be reproachful for them to suffer this ignorance to continue; and the rest of the world have a right now to expect authentic information. To furnish this has been the design of the author of the following work; but he does not pretend that this design is compleated, nor will the judicious and candid expect it, when they consider that he has trodden, comparatively, an unbeaten path — that he has had to collect a vast variety of materials — that these have been widely scattered — and that he could derive but little assistance from books already published. Four years have been employed in this work, during which period, the Author has visited the several states in the Union, and maintained an extensive correspondence with men of Science; and in every instance has endeavoured to derive his information from the most authentic sources; he has also submitted his manuscripts to the inspection of Gentlemen in the states which they particularly described, for their correction. It is possible, notwithstanding, and indeed very probable, that inaccuracies may have crept in; but he hopes there are none of any great importance, and that such as may be observed, will not be made the subject of severe censure, but ascribed to some pardonable cause. He flatters himself, however, that the work now offered to the public, will be found to be as accurate, compleat, and impartial as the present state of American Geography and History could furnish. After all, like the Nation of which it treats, it is but an infant, and as such solicits the fostering care of the country it describes; it will grow and improve as the nation advances towards maturity, and the Author will gratefully acknowledge every friendly communication which will tend to make it perfect.