{"product_id":"washington-territory-9780874222494","title":"Washington Territory","description":"\u003cp\u003eEstablished in 1853  Washington remained a territory for 36 years  until admitted into the Union in 1889. Only three other territories created in the American West after 1850 languished longer in dependent status. Because of a dividing geographical barrier (the Cascade Range) and the lack of adequate internal transportation and communication systems  Washington Territory made no practical sense as a political and economic entity. Western Washington was actually a satellite of San Francisco and Eastern Washington of Portland  until railroads finally were completed along the Columbia River and across the Cascades in the mid 1880s. Essentially  Washington was not eligible for statehood until very late in its territorial period when railways unified the region. Though modern scholars have produced worthy biographies and specialized studies for this intriguing period  until now only one previous attempt at a comprehensive history has appeared--H.H. Bancrofts imperfect all-in-one volume  History of Washington  Idaho and Montana (1890). Robert E. Fickens Washington Territory will long serve as the definitive economic and political history of territorial Washington.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67929905987637,"sku":"ByrdShop_0874222494","price":102.32,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780874222494.jpg?v=1794200706","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/washington-territory-9780874222494","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}