America's Promise: A Concise History of the United States / Edition 1

by William J. Rorabaugh, Donald T. Critchlow co-editor of American Conspiracies Revealed and author of The Conservative, Paula Baker

Overview

America's Promise is a concise, highly readable introduction to American History. Designed to clearly explain major themes and events, it also captures the rich and often amusing character of the American people. The strong narrative emphasizes public life and how individuals constructed public structures in which they lived and worked. Including the latest scholarship in social, cultural, and political history, the work integrates the history and importance of women and minorities.

To aid students in learning and reviewing, each chapter begins with a preview of the main ideas that will be discussed and ends with a conclusion that reinforces the key concepts. Rather than being simply declaratory signposts, section headings highlight main ideas and help carry along the narrative. A glossary defines main terms, and a timeline helps students keep track of events. Selected readings are also included to encourage further reading and study. Finally, carefully selected illustrations and maps portray, pinpoint, and illuminate important episodes in American history.

The most concise and competitively priced book available, America's Promise is a breath of fresh air in the introductory market.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780742511910
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	03/12/2004
Series:	America's Promise Series , #2
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	502
Product dimensions:	6.34(w) x 9.14(h) x 1.07(d)

About the Author

William J. Rorabaugh is professor of history at the University of Washington, Seattle. He is the author of The Alcoholic Republic: An American Tradition, The Craft Apprentice: From Franklin to the Machine Age, Berkeley at War: The 1960s and Kennedy and the Promise of the Sixties. Donald T. Critchlow is professor of history at Saint Louis University. He is the founding editor of the Journal of Policy History, and the author of a number of books, including Intended Consequences: Birth Control, Abortion, and the Federal Government and Studebaker: The Life and Death of an American Corporation. Paula Baker is associate professor of history at the Ohio State University and is the author of The Moral Framework of Public Life: Gender, Politics, and the State in Rural New York, 1870–1930, editor of Money and Politics, and co-editor of Major Problems in American History since 1945.

Table of Contents

Chapter 15: Reconstruction, 1863–1877 Chapter 16: The Frontier and Westward Expansion Chapter 17: Industry and Labor in the Gilded Age Chapter 18: The Structure of Gilded Age Politics Chapter 19: Immigrants and the City Transform American Society Chapter 20: Depression, Protest, and Politics Chapter 21: America Acquires an Empire Chapter 22: The Progressive Years Chapter 23: Global Power and World War Chapter 24: The Paradox of the 1920s Chapter 25: The Great Depression and the New Deal Chapter 26: A Global Nation: World War II and the Origins of the Cold War Chapter 27: The Cold War Haunts the "Fabulous Fifties" Chapter 28: Decade of Illusion, 1960–1969 Chapter 29: The Tumultuous Years: Nixon-Ford-Carter, 1968–1980 Chapter 30: The Reagan Revolution and its Aftermath Chapter 31: America Enters the Twenty-first Century Appendix I: The Declaration of Independence Appendix II: The Constitution of the United States of America Appendix III: U.S. Population Characteristics Appendix IV: Population for Selected Large Cities Appendix V: Presidential Elections Appendix VI: Chronology Glossary

Editorial Reviews

America's Promise offers a well-written and insightful account of American history. Students will find it highly engaging and informative. Unlike most textbooks, the authors blend political, social, cultural, and economic history into a synthetic account of where our country came from, where it has been, and where it might be going.--Julian E. Zelizer, associate professor and director of the Undergraduate Program in Public Policy at SUNY Albany

America's Promise is a model textbook: Concise, inexpensive, and filled with anecdotes that make it interesting to read. It is a book that students will actually purchase and read--no small accomplishment in an era of overpriced, bloated textbooks often left unused on store shelves. The authors have turned the history textbook from a 'necessary evil' into a 'positive good.' Two thumbs up. Way up!--Jonathan Bean, professor of history, Southern Illinois University Carbonale

From the Publisher

America’s Promise offers a well-written and insightful account of American history. Students will find it highly engaging and informative. Unlike most textbooks, the authors blend political, social, cultural, and economic history into a synthetic account of where our country came from, where it has been, and where it might be going.

Julian E. Zelizer

America's Promise is a model textbook: Concise, inexpensive, and filled with anecdotes that make it interesting to read. It is a book that students will actually purchase and read—no small accomplishment in an era of overpriced, bloated textbooks often left unused on store shelves. The authors have turned the history textbook from a 'necessary evil' into a 'positive good.' Two thumbs up. Way up!

Jonathan Bean