FROM THE PUBLISHER
>From the colonial town green to the televised town hall, Americans have
shaped their destiny through their public life and the communities in which
they continue to live and work towards America's Promise. In this text,
authors William J. Rorabaugh, Donald T. Critchlow, and Paula Baker
effectively blend political, social and cultural history to present a
balanced portrait of America's past. Designed to emphasize major themes and
events, the work also captures the rich and often amusing character of the
American people. Extensively revised and expanded from America: A Concise
History (Rorabaugh and Critchlow), America's Promise is a succinct, highly
readable introduction to American history.
SYNOPSIS
This second volume of a two-volume history starts with Reconstruction
(1863-1877) and carries the story forward to George W. Bush and the
beginning of the 21st century, including a new chapter on the globalization
of America. The book includes b&w historical photos, maps, a glossary,
primary founding documents, and a chronology. This new text is extensively
revised and expanded from America: A Concise History, by William J.
Rorabaugh (U. of Washington) and Donald T. Critchlow (Saint Louis U.), who
are joined here by Paula Baker (Ohio State U.)
America's Promise: A Concise History of the United States, Vol. 1 February 2004
SYNOPSIS
Rorabaugh (history, U. of Washington), Critchlow (history, St. Louis U.),
and Baker (history, Ohio State U.) combine political, social, and cultural
history in a succinct, introductory student text covering American history
from prehistory through the Reconstruction years following the Civil War.
With an emphasis on major themes and events, the text is organized to keep
students focused on the ideas that hold the facts together; a second volume
picks up where this one leaves off.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface xi
Acknowledgments xiii
1 A Big Country 1
Prehistory and the First Americans 1
North American Indians in 1500 5
Europeans Explore and Exploit the Americas 8
Building the Spanish Empire, 1513-1542 11
France and Spain Become Rivals in North America 15
England Comes Late to the Party 17
Conclusion 20
Recommended Readings 21
2 The Plantation South, 1607-1771 22
Virginia's Early Days, 1607-1624 22
Governor Sir William Berkeley's Virginia, 1642-1677 27
The Great Planters Turn to Slavery 31
Founding the Other Southern Colonies 37
Conclusion 42
Recommended Readings 43
3 Religious New England, 1620-1760 44
The Pilgrims Found Plymouth Colony, 1620 44
England in 1620 46
The Puritans Found Massachusetts Bay Colony, 1629-1642 48
Puritan Life Revolves around Religion 53
Troubles Come to Massachusetts, 1660-1692 57
Awakenings, Commercial and Religious, 1700-1760 62
Conclusion 65
Recommended Readings 65
4 The Diverse Middle Colonies, 1624-1760 67
The Dutch Found New Netherland, 1624-1664 67
The English Add New York to Their Empire, 1651-1750 70
Multiethnic Experimenting in Pennsylvania, 1681-1760 74
Philadelphia Grows and Prospers, 1682-1760 79
Founding the Other Middle Colonies 82
Conclusion 83
Recommended Readings 84
5 The American Revolution, 1750-1783 85
Americans Help Maintain the British Empire, 1750-1763 85
The Mother Country Abuses Her Children, 1764-1774 92
Americans Make a Revolution, 1774-1783 98
Conclusion 108
Recommended Readings 108
6 The New Nation, 1783-1800 110
Living under the Articles of Confederation, 1783-1787 110
Planning the United States Constitution, 1787-1789 114
George Washington's Presidency, 1789-1797 118
John Adams's Presidency, 1797-1801 124
Conclusion 130
Recommended Readings 131
7 Thomas Jefferson's America, 1801-1829 132
Thomas Jefferson Envisions a Great, Expanding Nation 132
Friction with Britain Leads to the War of 1812 139
The Era of Good Feelings, 1816-1824 143
John Quincy Adams's Presidency, 1825-1829 147
Conclusion 150
Recommended Readings 150
8 The Market Revolution, 1790-1850 152
Textile Manufacturing Starts the Market Revolution 152
King Cotton Drives the Economy 156
Improved Transportation Stimulates Commerce 159
The Market Revolution Transforms Society 163
Conclusion 170
Recommended Readings 171
9 Evangelical Religion and Reform, 1790-1850 172
Southerners Embrace Revivals but Disdain Reform 172
Northeasterners Undertake Revivals with Reforms 176
Reformers Tackle Social Problems 181
Idealists Seek Change 187
Conclusion 191
Recommended Readings 191
10 Andrew Jackson of the West 192
The Frontier West Gives Birth to Jacksonian Ideals 192
Jackson Brings Frontier Democracy to the Nation 197
Jackson Fights to Preserve the Union 199
Jackson Wrecks the Banking System and the Economy 201
Jackson Removes Eastern Indians to Western Reservations 205
Jackson Casts a Shadow, 1836-1845 209
Conclusion 212
Recommended Readings 212
11 The Problem of Slavery 213
The Revolutionary Generation Attacks Slavery 213
Black Life in the South 216
Colonizationists Urge Abolition with Removal 220
Southerners Adopt a Positive View of Slavery 222
Religious Abolitionists Call Slavery a Sin 224
Militant Abolitionists Denounce Slavery 228
Conclusion 232
Recommended Readings 233
12 Americans at Midcentury: Unbounded Optimism 234
Rapid Growth Reshapes the Country 234
The Middle Class Adopts Modern Values 237
Americans Lay Claim to the Continent 240
The Texas Question Leads to War with Mexico 244
Adopting the Compromise of 1850 248
Manifest Destiny and Filibusters 252
Conclusion 254
Recommended Readings 254
13 The Sectional Crisis, 1852-1861 256
The Territorial Slavery Issue Returns, 1852-1854 256
Violence Helps the Republican Party, 1854-1856 260
James Buchanan's Presidency, 1857-1861 264
Secession Crisis, 1860-1861 273
Conclusion 275
Recommended Readings 276
14 Civil War, 1861-1865 277
The War Begins, 1861 277
The War Grows Long, 1862 282
The Key Year, 1863 289
The Confederacy Crumbles, 1864-1865 295
Conclusion 300
Recommended Readings 300
15 Reconstruction, 1863-1877 302
Wartime Reconstruction, 1863-1865 302
Johnson and Congress Quarrel, 1865-1866 306
Radicals Continue Reconstruction, 1867-1873 312
Conservatives Regain Power in the South, 1868-1877 316
Conclusion 320
Recommended Readings 320
Appendix I The Declaration of Independence 1
Appendix II The Constitution of the United States of America 5
Appendix III U.S. Population Characteristics 20
Appendix IV Population for Selected Large Cities 21
Appendix V Presidential Elections 22
Appendix VI Chronology 26
Glossary 1
Index 1
About the Authors 1
Maps
1.1 Location of Native Peoples around 1500 6
1.2 European Explorations in North America 12
2.1 American Seaboard Colonies 38
6.1 The United States in 1783 111
10.1 Water versus Land Transportation 193
12.1 The American West, 1818-1859 241
13.1 The United States in 1861 272
14.1 The Civil War in the East, 1861-1865 282
14.2 The Civil War in the West, 1861-1862 283
14.3 Gettysburg 291
14.4 The Civil War in the West, 1863-1865 293
Tables
1.1 The Columbian Exchange 3
5.1 Estimated Immigration to British North America, 1700-1775 86
13.1 The 1856 Presidential Election 264
13.2 The 1860 Presidential Election 271
14.1 Civil War Commanders 286