Is the underlying concept of Manifest Destiny still used to justify violence around the world? What did Carson’s words and actions reveal about his understanding of divine will? How did the post-colonial unrest in Mexico affect U.S attempts to purchase and conquer the West? What racial hierarchies were in place among Hispanic and Indian populations there? What is the current legacy of these conflicts? Is American literature’s love of the “noble savage,” inspired by characters such as Fremont and his pathfinder Carson (chapter nine) a thing of the past? Who are the heroes in new fiction of the twenty-first century? Polk? What might have stoked his determination to claim the West? How did he manage to keep military leaders motivated, despite Polk’s ambiguous leadership style? What do the biographical details in chapter six indicate about James K. What was John Fremont’s essential quest in exploring the West? What spurs all explorers to pursue risky journeys?

How was Carson able to embrace so many aspects of Native American culture, even marrying two Indian women, but nonetheless lead campaigns that crippled them? To whom (or what) was he most loyal?

The contradictions in Kit Carson’s personality make him an alluring figure. Were you familiar with the Navajo wars before reading Blood and Thunder? How do the book’s historical details compare with what you previously believed about the West?

Blood and thunder kit carson