Indian Uprising on the Rio Grande: The Pueblo Revolt of 1680

by Franklin Folsom, Alfonso Ortiz (Introduction)

This award-winning account of the Pueblo Revolt, originally published in 1973 as Red Power on the Rio Grande, is told from the point of view of the Native American villagers of the Rio Grande Valley. Folsom equates the Pueblos' desire to control their own destiny to that of the Americans in 1776 and reveals the harshness of Spanish rule. Not only were the Pueblos taxed and forced to labor for the Spanish, they were frequently sold into slavery and their religion was attacked and suppressed by missionaries. Under the direction of Popé, the Pueblos overcame their traditional reliance on local leadership and joined together in a brilliantly conceived and successful attack on Spanish power. This pivotal time in Pueblo history is powerfully and compelling retold here.
"A fascinating account of the Pueblo Native American uprising of 1680 against Spanish control in the Southwest."-- School Library Journal

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Native American

144 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1996

About the author

Also used the following pseudonyms:
Benjamin Brewster
Samuel Cutler
Michael Gorham
Lyman Hopkins
and Troy Nesbit

Reviews

[Reiden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offers a concise account of the Pueblo revolt from the perspective of the Pueblo Indians. The challenge of this book’s perspective is the lack of historical documents telling the Pueblo’s side of the story.

I got this book while visiting a bookstore at a Pueblo ruins in Pecos, NM. It was definitely a quick read, which made visualizing the overall events of the revolt easy to do. I’m always amazed that the story of the Pueblo Revolt doesn’t get more attention. The Pueblos pulled off a pretty remarkable feat in forcing the Spanish out of New Mexico in 1680, especially with the lack of unity the many Pueblo villages had before the revolt took place.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that can find it. I have a feeling there's not too many copies floating around out there.

[Leeann · Rating 3 out of 5]

After visiting Pecos I became intrigued about the Pueblo Revolt. I purchased this book about it and quickly read it. I've always felt it to be sad that most U.S. History has been one sided with the people keeping the records being in the position of writing the "definitive" story. The intent of this book is to give this particular conquered and oppressed people's point of view as well as illuminating the planning and strategies necessary for them to succeed in driving their oppressors out of their land for a time. I think the author does that well even though having to use some conjecture about the plans and strategies of the revolt.

I found this book to be very readable and informative.

[Melia · Rating 3 out of 5]

As far as historical books go, I'm impressed. Not historical fiction, but purely historical, this book did a good job of telling the story. It was a quick and easy read but offered a lot of information about this particular uprising. It wasn't overly dense or boring and was interesting enough that I didn't really zone out at all while reading it, as I often do for school books. I told this story through a "story", not like how textbooks go through in a way that bores you out of your mind. I don't really have that much to say about this book other than that. Easy, quick, informational read.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting telling of the Pueblo revolt of 1680. It tells the story of how the revolt was plan and carried out. Also threaded through the story is how the planning enabled success even against critical events such as the Spaniards finding out the planned attack date.
While Independence was short, with Spain reconquering the area in 1692, it appears that Spain learned some lessons and was less harsh in terms of suppressing the indigenous culture.

[Geoventuring Watershed-marshal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author shares plausible perspectives on how mid-1400 papal bulls influenced evolution of manifest destiny myths. Those memes still misdirect our quest for tolerance and alternative conflict resolution paradigms.

[Screaming]

A quick and informative read from the Indigenous viewpoint. I enjoyed.