From 1845 to 1865 the Gulf of Mexico was at the center of American expansion and southern imperialism. A Continuous State of War tells the story of several communities, such as Galveston, New Orleans, and Pensacola as well as countries such as Mexico and
"By pulling together such a rich and multitextured history, A Continuous State of War offers an original and valuable analysis of the complicated ways in which race, movement, and geopolitics intersected to shape the history of the Gulf and the United States' understandings of empire during the Civil War Era."
Brian Schoen
"This is a welcome partially narrative history of the role of the Gulf South in U.S. territorial expansion after 1836 that will appeal to college teachers looking for a readable volume on territorial expansion for upper division and graduate courses in history. . . . I've read a great deal about international relations during the Civil War, but this analysis stands out."
Amy S. Greenberg
"A thought-provoking, engaging, and complex history. . . . Combining social, geopolitical, ethnic, and cultural themes, Diaz constructs a history that captures the experiences and convictions of the Gulf South during these momentous decades. By including accounts from Latin America and Mexico, Diaz weaves into the narrative the racial tensions, expansionist mindsets, and military ventures that ear
