The American People: Creating a Nation and a Society (Volume One: To 1877)

The story of our nation is a rich tapestry. It's a tale told seamlessly in the third edition of The American People. One of the most successful American history survey texts in print, The American People considers the rich, varied fabric of social history within a larger analytical context. Drawing on the expertise of a renowned team of authors, the text highlights the interac­tion of social, political, economic, cultural, religious, and technological forces in a clear, cohesive organizational framework. The text examines recurring themes in American history, including the adaptability of our political system to a changing soci­ety; liberty and authority; the reform impulse in American society; and the struggle for national unity and cultural diversity. The third edition features a stronger focus on environmental history, including a new section on the dust bowl of the 1930s, as well as new environmental coverage in chap­ters on industrialization and sections on farming. Chapter 9, "Society and Politics in the Early Republic," includes an examination of the society and economy of preindustrial America. Also included are discussions and analysis of economic and demographic changes during the last decades of the twenti­eth century.