December 5, 2022

Professor Andrea McDowell’s book We the Miners: Self-Government in the California Gold Rush was just named one of the ten best history books of 2022 by The Financial Times. Andrea’s work is described as an “engaging study” that “challenges Wild West stereotypes.” In the absence of state authority, Gold Rush miners turned out to be experts at self-government. Using meetings and the rules of parliamentary procedure, Gold Rush California brought about a flowering of American-style democracy.

"PROFESSOR MCDOWELL’S BOOK DESERVES EVERY ACCOLADE IT RECEIVES."

Kip Cornwell, Dean

In praise of the book, Dean Kip Cornwell said, “Professor McDowell’s book deserves every accolade it receives. It was a project of sustained passion under the pressure of expectation: in its earlier stages, it was recognized for its promise by the Guggenheim Foundation, and now that it is published, it is being lauded for the numerous insights that it delivers. We couldn’t be prouder.”