Long before the Richter Scale was established, the earthquakes that rocked New Madrid and forced the Mississippi to run backwards were estimated to have ranked at least an 8.0 on a 10.0 scale. Beginning on December 16, 1811 and terminating sometime toward the end of April 1812, these natural disasters sent 200 tremors that were experienced as far north as Canada. Obviously, the earthquakes had a tremendous impact on American geology, society and history. Therefore, Jay Feldman, took on the task of describing these events where records have largely ceased to exist in his 2005 work, “When the Mississippi Ran Backwards.” Feldman’s account of the events is a blend of scientific records with historical accounts that creates a significant impression of the enormity of the events while making a reader wonder if the New Madrid earthquakes really did alter America that vastly and in that many ways.
Since there were not many records that either survived the earthquakes or simply were not produced due to many people that resided in the area being unable to read and write well, Feldman relied on geologic evidence to establish what the New Madrid Fault Zone is and why the earthquakes occurred. Naturally when one of a continents major rivers completely reverses course that is cause for alarm on what is transpiring, but it appears this was one of the major zones for when the tectonic plates ruptured, creating North America. Therefore, the river’s new course illustrates a new course for America in the coming decades. It also ties in with the vision of the Western frontier and pioneers expanding the nation towards the Pacific Shores. What is intriguing, however, is the place this occurrence seems to have in the annals of history, more than likely because it did happen in an area that was considered to be wilderness and largely unpopulated by White Americans. Feldman’s description leaves this reader with the impression that although this event was seriously significant by altering geography, would it not have been noteworthy had the Mississippi been the Ohio or Hudson where civilizations, infrastructure and populations had already been established?
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In the same vein, Feldman’s use of firsthand accounts and how the earthquakes impacted the lives of people such as Tecumseh as well as the Lewis brothers is effective. How it could not be as many people that lived through the quakes thought the world was going to end, but Feldman feels these characters illustrate the “combustive” nature of the era. He portrays those characters as touching on the key issues of slavery and the Native American question, in addition to the different alliances the United States was forming or revamping with Britain and Spain. Feldman has a point and employs the use of the imagery of the geologic adjustments, characters and foreign affairs to depict how swiftly America itself was changing. However, the earthquake was not necessarily the cause of the state of affairs. It was a natural event that would have occurred whether the United States was following a policy of Westward expansion or not that would have been contended with just because there was no choice.
Overall, Feldman uses his event and description of it as background to show what he feels was America that was in the throes of great change. The earthquakes signify how violently this type of change can occur and how indelible its marks can be upon society. He also supports his story with quality research and tells the tale in a thought provoking, intriguing fashion. Ultimately, however, this reader is left with more questions than when the book was first opened, as Feldman’s account illustrates a historic event that is largely removed from history’s page. Even if the earthquake had never rocked the citizens of New Madrid, would not American society have moved in the directions it was moving anyway? The earthquake was not the catalyst of these circumstances and did not alter the course of history in that regard, but it does stand for the times of enormous shifting that were already in place and were on the horizon for future decades.
