American History: A Very Short IntroductionThis brief history of America will span the earliest migrations to the present, reflecting Paul S. Boyer's interests in social, intellectual, and cultural history, including popular culture and religion. It will reflect his personal view of American history, in which a sense of paradox and irony loom large. While noting positive achievements—political, economic, social, and cultural—he will also discuss the United States's failures to live up to its oft-stated ideals; although America has figured in the world's imagination (and its own self-image) as a "land of opportunity" offering "liberty and justice for all," the reality has often fallen short. For example, the establishment of the North American colonies had very different meanings for colonists from the British Isles and Europe, for Native peoples, and for enslaved Africans brought against their will. The late nineteenth century saw not only impressive industrial expansion and the creation of vast fortunes but also appalling conditions in urban-immigrant slums and a degraded, exploited labor force. The twentieth-century emergence of a suburban society of consumer abundance meant a better life for many and laid the groundwork for impressive cultural creativity, yet left behind crime-ridden inner cities and spawned a stultifying mass culture. The immigrants who have renewed and revitalized the nation have also stirred hostility and resentment. While American popular culture has demonstrated global appeal, the projection of U.S. military power abroad, from the Philippines early in the twentieth century to Iraq early in the twenty-first, has sometimes failed in its purpose and damaged the nation's international standing. Although this book will not be a muckraking exposé or anachronistic moral tract, neither will it be a celebratory panegyric or a bland recital of facts. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable. |
Contents
Prehistory to 1763 | 1 |
Revolution Constitution a new nation | 15 |
The promise and perils of nationhood | 30 |
Slavery and Civil War | 45 |
Industrialization and its consequences | 60 |
Reform and war | 75 |
From conflict to global power | 90 |
Affluence and social unrest | 106 |
9 To the present | 123 |
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abolitionism abolitionist Affluence and social African Americans Allied American History Amid Andrew antislavery Barack Obama battle bomb Boston British challenged cities Cold War colonies colonists communist Confederate conflict to global Congress conservative Continental army corporate cultural David declared defeated Democratic denounced Despite domestic economic election England Europe European factories farmers federal Federalist French gender George George H. W. Bush German global power governor Hispanic House immigrants Indian industrial Jackson James Jefferson John Klaus Dodds labor leaders Lincoln Massachusetts military million movement Nick Middleton Nixon North northern nuclear numbers Obama Party perils of nationhood political postwar President presidential protests racial railroad Reagan reform religious Republican Revolution Roger Scruton Roosevelt Senate slavery slaves society South southern Soviet Thomas treaty U.S. Supreme Court U.S. troops Union United University Press urban Vietnam Virginia vote Washington William William Lloyd Garrison Wilson women workers York