Can you construct an idea about what it was like to be an "American" in the 1830s from Dana's account of his travels and companions?

Describe the economic forces that shaped the California trade. What goods went where? Who made money? Did the commerce change during Dana's years of observation? How did the commerce change from that described by La Pérousse?

How do Americans in the 1830s perceive Californios? What are the stereotypes? Where did they come from? How do they affect relations between Americans and Californios? How do they affect Dana?

Do you find any indication of an American desire to take California for the United States in Dana's narrative? Can you discern any attitudes or conditions that might shed light on the nature of a future American conquest?

How might Californios see their economic and social interaction with the Americans in the 1830s? Describe the Americans from the Spanish perspective.

Can you construct an idea about what it was like to be an "American" in the 1840s from Susan Shelby Magoffin's account of her travels and acquaintances? Does it differ from Dana's account?

How does Susan Magoffin's journal reflect a women's viewpoint of the West (Southwest), travel, and conquest? What concerns and details are emphasized particularly because of her gender (compared to Dana)?

Describe the economic forces that shaped the Santa Fe trade. What goods went where? Who made money? What kind of influence to Americans have in Magoffin's account. Does this compare with Dana's account?

How do Americans in the 1840s perceive New Mexicans (Nuevo Mexicanos)? What are the stereotypes? Where did they come from? How do they affect relations between Americans and Spanish-Mexican settlers? How do they affect Magoffin?

What are Susan Magoffin's views of the Pueblo Indians in New Mexico? How do they differ from her views about Spanish-Mexicans?

How does Susan Magoffin perceive American expansionism and the "conquest" of Santa Fe?

How might Nuevo Mexicanos see their economic and social interaction with the Americans in the 1840s? Describe the Americans from the Spanish perspective. What are the differences between this view and the one from California?

What is the author's opinion of Mexico and Mexicans in the various northern provinces? With whom are they compared and how? How do they affect relations between Americans and Spanish-Mexican settlers?

Describe the economic forces that shaped the Santa Fe trade. What goods went where? Who made money? What kind of influence do Americans have in these accounts.

How do these authors characterize the situation of Native Americans in the provinces that they visited? How do they view the relations between the settler and Native American communities? If they make a distinction, which do they prefer?

Think about the author's depiction of gender in his description of settlers on the northern Mexican frontier. What stereotypes does he/she carry? Are these based on gender or ethnic differences?

How do Magoffin and Ruxton perceive American expansionism and the "conquest" of Santa Fe?