Josiah Priest
Josiah Priest (1788–1861) was an
American nonfiction writer of the early 19th century. His books and pamphlets, which presented both standard and speculative
history and
archaeology sold in the thousands. Although Priest appears to have been poorly educated, he attempted to portray himself as an
authority in his books. Priest is often identified as one of the creators of
pseudoscientific and
pseudohistoric literature. Although his work was widely read and several of his works were published in multiple editions, his books were characterized by theories that were used to justify the violent domination over both the
Native American and
African-American peoples. Priest's works were among the most overtly
racist of his time. Priest's works help set the stage for the
Trail of Tears and the defense of slavery that contributed to the conflicts of the
American Civil War.
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