Synopses & Reviews
Of the People: A History of the United States not only tells the history of America--of its people and places, of its dealings and ideals--but it also unfolds the story of American democracy, carefully marking how this country's evolution has been anything but certain, from its complex beginnings to its modern challenges.
This comprehensive survey focuses on the social and political lives of people--some famous, some ordinary--revealing the compelling story of America's democracy from an individual perspective, from across the landscapes of diverse communities, and ultimately from within the larger context of the world.
New to the Second Edition
* Updated scholarship, with enhanced coverage of democracy
* Expanded coverage of Native American societies, heavily revised coverage of the Gilded Age, and integrated material on slavery and African-American history
* A revised final chapter that covers the financial crisis that began in 2008, the death of bin Laden, and the Tea Party
* Current maps and charts that reflect the most recent census data
* New Additions to "American Portrait," "American Landscape," and "America and the World" features
* New visual review diagrams, enhanced critical-thinking pedagogy, and additional pedagogical aids
Review
"Of the People is solid, well-written, and up-to-date. This is a state-of-the-art encapsulation of the scholarship in an accessible format. It is judicious and evenhanded, and has no axes to grind."--Mark Elliott, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
"Of the People's main strength is its thematic cohesiveness centered on democracy, people, and power. The authors have integrated the myriad elements of the human experience: the political, economic, social, cultural, and military aspects of national life into an interesting narrative that combines keen analysis with engaging storytelling."--Gabriela Gonzalez, The University of Texas at San Antonio
"This textbook is about as good as a US History survey text can get due to its overall narrative and extra features."--John C. Pinheiro, Aquinas College
"The main strength of this text is the writing. It is excellent. It is engaging. It is thoughtful."--Mary E. Glade, St. Cloud State University
"Of the People is a well-written narrative that captures the drama of the American experience and places it in a historical perspective that both students and scholars can appreciate."--Matthew Oyos, Radford University
"Of the People emphasizes America's rich cultural heritage and helps students to think critically about the past."--Christopher Thrasher, Texas Technology University
"This book provides a very well-written, engaging narrative that students will find compelling and exciting to read. Its features include devices for capturing students' attention; stories that allow for greater empathy with historical figures, and strategies for organizing students' thoughts in effective and meaningful ways."--William B. Carter, South Texas College
About the Author
James Oakes, City University of New York Graduate Center
Michael McGerr, Indiana University-Bloomington
Jan Ellen Lewis, Rutgers University, Newark
Nick Cullather, Indiana University-Bloomington
Jeanne Boydston, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Mark Summers, University of Kentucky-Lexington
Camilla Townsend, Rutgers University, New Brunswick
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Worlds in Motion, 1450-1550
Chapter 2: Colonial Outposts, 1550-1650
Chapter 3: The English Come to Stay, 1600-1660
Chapter 4: Continental Empires 1660-1720
Chapter 5: The Eighteenth-Century World, 1700-1775
Chapter 6: Conflict on the Edge of Empire, 1713-1774
Chapter 7: Creating a New Nation, 1774-1788
Chapter 8: Contested Republic, 1789-1800
Chapter 9: A Republic in Transition, 1800-1820
Chapter 10: Jacksonian Democracy, 1820-1848
Chapter 11: Reform and Conflict, 1825-1840
Chapter 12: Slavery and the Nation, 1790-1860
Chapter 13: Manifest Destiny, 1830-1848
Chapter 14: The Politics of Slavery, 1848-1860
Chapter 15: A War for Union and Emancipation, 1861-1865
Chapter 16: Reconstructing a Nation, 1865-1877