20 Best Books About Early American History (2023 Update)

The series includes three pulitzer prize winners, two new york times bestsellers, and winners of the bancroft and parkman prizes. now, in the newest volume in the series, one of america's most esteemed historians, gordon s. wood, offers a brilliant account of the early american republic, ranging from 1789 and the beginning of the national government to the end of the war of 1812. as wood reveals, the period was marked by tumultuous change in all aspects of american life—in politics, society, economy, and culture. the men who founded the new government had high hopes for the future, but few of their hopes and dreams worked out quite as they expected. they hated political parties but parties nonetheless emerged. some wanted the united states to become a great fiscal-military state like those of britain and france; others wanted the country to remain a rural agricultural state very different from the european states. instead, by 1815 the united states became something neither group anticipated. many leaders expected american culture to flourish and surpass that of europe; instead it became popularized and vulgarized. the leaders also hope to see the end of slavery; instead, despite the release of many slaves and the end of slavery in the north, slavery was stronger in 1815 than it had been in 1789. many wanted to avoid entanglements with europe, but instead the country became involved in europe's wars and ended up waging another war with the former mother country. still, with a new generation emerging by 1815, most americans were confident and optimistic about the future of their country. integrating all aspects of life, from politics and law to the economy and culture, empire of liberty offers a marvelous account of this pivotal era when america took its first unsteady steps as a new and rapidly expanding nation. a finalist for the pulitzer prize for history winner of the new-york historical society american history book prize a new york times bestseller selected as one of the top 25 books of 2009 by the atlantic "on every page of this book, wood's subtlety and erudition show. grand in scope and a landmark achievement of scholarship, empire of liberty is a tour de force, the culmination of a lifetime of brilliant thinking and writing." —the new york times book review "empire of liberty will rightly take its place among the authoritative volumes in this important and influential series." —the washington post

A multicultural, multinational history of colonial america from the pulitzer prize-winning author of the internal enemy and american revolutionsin the first volume in the penguin history of the united states, edited by eric foner, alan taylor challenges the traditional story of colonial history by examining the many cultures that helped make america, from the native inhabitants from milennia past, through the decades of western colonization and conquest, and across the entire continent, all the way to the pacific coast.transcending the usual anglocentric version of our colonial past, he recovers the importance of native american tribes, african slaves, and the rival empires of france, spain, the netherlands, and even russia in the colonization of north america. moving beyond the atlantic seaboard to examine the entire continent, american colonies reveals a pivotal period in the global interaction of peoples, cultures, plants, animals, and microbes. in a vivid narrative, taylor draws upon cutting-edge scholarship to create a timely picture of the colonial world characterized by an interplay of freedom and slavery, opportunity and loss." formidable . . . provokes us to contemplate the ways in which residents of north america have dealt with diversity." -the new york times book review

From the new york times bestselling team behind rad american women a-z comes an illustrated collection of radical and transformative political, social, and cultural movements in american history.“ an engaging, fascinating, and necessary book that speaks truth to power.”—congresswoman barbara leein rad american history a-z, each letter of the alphabet tells the story of a significant moment in america's progressive history–one that isn't always covered in history classes: a is for alcatraz, and the native occupation of 1969; c is for the combahee river raid, a civil war action planned in part by union spy harriet tubman; z is for zuccotti park, and the occupy movement that briefly took over the world. paired with dynamic paper-cut art by miriam klein stahl, the entries by kate schatz explore several centuries of politics, culture, art, activism, and liberation, including radical librarians, supreme court cases, courageous youth, punk rocker grrrls, southern quilts, and modern witches. in addition to the twenty-six core stories, short sidebars expand the discussion, and dictionary-style lists refer readers to additional key moments. so while f is for federal theater project, a new deal-era program that employed thousands of artists, f is also for freedom rides and first amendment. e is for earth first!, but also for endangered species act and equal rights amendment. there are tales of triumph, resilience, creation, and hope. in such chaotic political times, this is a critical tool for young people to know how change happens, and to know that they, too, can make change happen.

Uncover the remarkable story of the american revolution! who were the redcoats, and what was the boston tea party? explore key events like the british surrender at yorktown, and the writing of the declaration of independence.written in association with the esteemed smithsonian institution, this beautiful visual reference book will transport you back in time and onto the front lines of the american revolution. take chronological steps through the american revolution, starting with the first stirrings of colonial resistance. learn about important events and key moments of the war that gave birth to the american republic. meet the most memorable people from the period, from george washington to benedict arnold, and explore first-person accounts by soldiers and civilians. this history book for children grade 7 and up gives you a complete overview of the most fascinating events during the war. the action is brought to life through illustrated accounts of every major military action and comprehensive timelines for every stage of the conflict. gallery spreads feature the weapons, arms, and uniforms that were used, to give you a full picture of what it was like. large color pictures, black-and-white drawings, and detailed maps add intriguing visuals to the history of america, so reading can be engaging and enjoyable. this visual reference book also details the politics of the war and the different parts of society impacted by the events. learn about the treatment of prisoners and the revolution's implications for women, native americans, and african-americans. dive in and explore the parts of the american revolution you haven’t yet discovered.mapping the road to american independence the american revolution is the most significant event in american history. without it, there would not be the united states of america. more than 240 years after the signing of the declaration of independence, this educational book demonstrates why this historical period is still so important today.journey through the most significant events and battles: – from resistance to rebellion – before 1775 – the start of the war – 1775 – birth of a nation – 1776 – the struggle for mastery – 1777 – a widening war – 1778 – conflict spreads – 1779 – the continuing struggle – 1780 – america victorious – 1781-83 – aftermath: a stronger nation

"a wonderful, splendid book–a book that should be ready by every american, student or otherwise, who wants to understand his country, its true history, and its hope for the future." –howard fastwith a new introduction by anthony arnove, this edition of the classic national bestseller chronicles american history from the bottom up, throwing out the official narrative taught in schools—with its emphasis on great men in high places—to focus on the street, the home and the workplace.known for its lively, clear prose as well as its scholarly research, a people's history of the united states is the only volume to tell america's story from the point of view of—and in the words of—america's women, factory workers, african-americans, native americans, the working poor, and immigrant laborers. as historian howard zinn shows, many of our country's greatest battles—the fights for a fair wage, an eight-hour workday, child-labor laws, health and safety standards, universal suffrage, women's rights, racial equality—were carried out at the grassroots level, against bloody resistance.covering christopher columbus's arrival through president clinton's first term, a people's history of the united states features insightful analysis of the most important events in our history.

American history comes alive in these 100 true stories that define our country. this magnificent treasury tells the story of america through 100 true tales. some are tales of triumph—the midnight ride of paul revere, the wright brothers taking to the air, neil armstrong’s first steps on the moon. some are tales of tragedy—the fate of the donner party, the great fire in chicago, the eruption of mount saint helens. there are stories of inventors and athletes and abolitionists and artists. stories about struggling for freedom—again and again, in so many ways. with full-color illustrations on nearly every page and short, exciting stories, this book is perfect for browsing by the entire family. notes at the end of each story direct readers to related stories. and a guide to thematic story arcs offers readers (and teachers) an easy way to follow their particular interests throughout the book. a treasure trove of a book that belongs in every home! “this lively and engaging collection of stories recounting american history is a wonderful gift not only to the children of this country but also their parents. i can’t wait to share it with my grandchildren.” —tom brokaw

A new, completely revised, expanded and updated edition of the million-selling new york times bestseller that launched the entire don't know much about series when don't know much about history first appeared thirteen years ago, it created a sensation. with humor, wit, great stories, and a trademark conversational style, the book brought americans a fresh new take on history. shattering myths and vividly bringing the past to life, it spent thirty-five consecutive weeks on the new york times bestseller list. davis proved that americans don't hate history — they just hate the dull textbook version they were force-fed in school. the book became an instant classic, an "anti -textbook" that has sold more than 1.3 million copies. in his irreverent and popular question-and- answer style, davis now returns with a completely revised edition that brings history right up to the moment — covering such topics as the end of the cold war, clinton's impeachment, the bizarre election of 2000, and the events that led to september 11. incorporating new research and discoveries, davis also updates and expands on such long-standing american controversies as the jefferson-hemings affair, the alger hiss trial, and the rosenberg spy case. and he includes an expanded "civics lesson" that examines some of america's hottest social and political issues, such as the death penalty, gun control, and school prayer. for history buffs and history-phobes alike, longtime fans who need a refresher course, and for a new generation of americans who are still in the dark about america's past, davis proves once more why people magazine said, "reading him is like returning to the classroom of the best teacher you ever had."

Adapted from the bestselling grassroots history of the united states, the story of america in the world, told in comics formsince its landmark publication in 1980, a people's history of the united states has had six new editions, sold more than 1.7 million copies, become required classroom reading throughout the country, and been turned into an acclaimed play. more than a successful book, a people's history triggered a revolution in the way history is told, displacing the official versions with their emphasis on great men in high places to chronicle events as they were lived, from the bottom up.now howard zinn, historian paul buhle, and cartoonist mike konopacki have collaborated to retell, in vibrant comics form, a most immediate and relevant chapter of a people's history: the centuries-long story of america's actions in the world. narrated by zinn, this version opens with the events of 9/11 and then jumps back to explore the cycles of u.s. expansionism from wounded knee to iraq, stopping along the way at world war i, central america, vietnam, and the iranian revolution. the book also follows the story of zinn, the son of poor jewish immigrants, from his childhood in the brooklyn slums to his role as one of america's leading historians.shifting from world-shattering events to one family's small revolutions, a people's history of american empire presents the classic ground-level history of america in a dazzling new form.

Named one of the ten best books of the year by the chicago tribune – a publishers weekly best book of 2019 | a 2019 npr staff pick – a pathbreaking history of the united states’ overseas possessions and the true meaning of its empire but what about the actual territories—the islands, atolls, and archipelagos—this country has governed and inhabited? in crackling, fast-paced prose, he reveals forgotten episodes that cast american history in a new light. in puerto rico, immerwahr shows how u.s. doctors conducted grisly experiments they would never have conducted on the mainland and charts the emergence of independence fighters who would shoot up the u.s. congress. – in the years after world war ii, immerwahr notes, the united states moved away from colonialism. instead, it put innovations in electronics, transportation, and culture to use, devising a new sort of influence that did not require the control of colonies. rich with absorbing vignettes, full of surprises, and driven by an original conception of what empire and globalization mean today, how to hide an empire is a major and compulsively readable work of history.

"the creation of the united states of america is the greatest of all human adventures," begins paul johnson's remarkable new american history. "no other national story holds such tremendous lessons, for the american people themselves and for the rest of mankind." johnson's history is a reinterpretation of american history from the first settlements to the clinton administration. it covers every aspect of u.s. history–politics; business and economics; art, literature and science; society and customs; complex traditions and religious beliefs. the story is told in terms of the men and women who shaped and led the nation and the ordinary people who collectively created its unique character. wherever possible, letters, diaries, and recorded conversations are used to ensure a sense of actuality. "the book has new and often trenchant things to say about every aspect and period of america's past," says johnson, "and i do not seek, as some historians do, to conceal my opinions." johnson's history presents john winthrop, roger williams, anne hutchinson, cotton mather, franklin, tom paine, washington, adams, jefferson, hamilton, and madison from a fresh perspective. it emphasizes the role of religion in american history and how early america was linked to england's history and culture and includes incisive portraits of andrew jackson, chief justice marshall, clay, lincoln, and jefferson davis. johnson shows how grover cleveland and teddy roosevelt ushered in the age of big business and industry and how woodrow wilson revolutionized the government's role. he offers new views of harding, coolidge, and hoover and of franklin roosevelt's new deal and his role as commander in chief during world war ii. an examination of the unforeseen greatness of harry truman and reassessments of eisenhower, kennedy, johnson, nixon, reagan, and bush follow. "compulsively readable," said foreign affairs of johnson's unique narrative skills and sharp profiles of people. this is an in-depth portrait of a great people, from their fragile origins through their struggles for independence and nationhood, their heroic efforts and sacrifices to deal with the `organic sin' of slavery and the preservation of the union to its explosive economic growth and emergence as a world power and its sole superpower. johnson discusses such contemporary topics as the politics of racism, education, vietnam, the power of the press, political correctness, the growth of litigation, and the rising influence of women. he sees americans as a problem-solving people and the story of america as "essentially one of difficulties being overcome by intelligence and skill, by faith and strength of purpose, by courage and persistence… looking back on its past, and forward to its future, the auguries are that it will not disappoint humanity." this challenging narrative and interpretation of american history by the author of many distinguished historical works is sometimes controversial and always provocative. johnson's views of individuals, events, themes, and issues are original, critical, and admiring, for he is, above all, a strong believer in the history and the destiny of the american people.

If you want to discover the captivating history of the united states, then keep reading… – when the preachers of the great awakening stood on the backs of wagons or bits of old tree stumps and told the american people a new story of individual freedom and the power of ordinary people, they could never have dreamed that their preaching would trigger a landslide of abolitionism that would end in a civil war that almost tore the entire country apart. – when the civil war was finally won by the union, and all african americans' chains were broken at last, the military leaders could never have dreamed that within the next half century, the united states would emerge as one of the world's greatest military powers during the spanish-american war. and when those soldiers won the struggle against spain in cuba, they could never have dreamed that later in the century, cuba itself would turn against them and become the single greatest threat of nuclear annihilation during the cold war. – when the wright brothers first took to the air and thomas edison made the lightbulb, they could never have dreamed that american innovation would produce not only the ford car, basketball, the telephone, and facebook, but it would also be instrumental in creating the atomic bombs that killed hundreds of thousands of people and finally brought an end to the second world war. as for martin luther king, jr., he did dream. he had a dream of equality and brotherhood, and his dream at least partially came true in 2008 when america saw the inauguration of its first black president. never could the slaves of the great plantations of the south have dreamed that that day would ever come, but it did. – nobody could have dreamed it, but it all came to pass, and it became the history of the united states of america. and this is how it all happened… in the history of the united states: a captivating guide to american history, including events such as the american revolution, french and indian war, boston tea party, pearl harbor, and the gulf war, you will discover topics such as the people who were there first a time of exploration colonizing america the french and indian war the boston tea party the american revolution the first president restless times horrors for the natives awakening civil war seeking for peace a rising power progress disaster strikes the biggest bomb in the world icy tension freedom on the home front terror and its war and much, much more so if you want to learn more about the history of the united states, then scroll up and click the "add to cart" button

New york times bestseller – now part of the hbo docuseries "exterminate all the brutes," written and directed by raoul peck – recipient of the american book award – the first history of the united states told from the perspective of indigenous peoples today in the united states, there are more than five hundred federally recognized indigenous nations comprising nearly three million people, descendants of the fifteen million native people who once inhabited this land. the centuries-long genocidal program of the us settler-colonial regimen has largely been omitted from history. now, for the first time, acclaimed historian and activist roxanne dunbar-ortiz offers a history of the united states told from the perspective of indigenous peoples and reveals how native americans, for centuries, actively resisted expansion of the us empire. – with growing support for movements such as the campaign to abolish columbus day and replace it with indigenous peoples’ day and the dakota access pipeline protest led by the standing rock sioux tribe, an indigenous peoples’ history of the united states is an essential resource providing historical threads that are crucial for understanding the present. in an indigenous peoples’ history of the united states, dunbar-ortiz adroitly challenges the founding myth of the united states and shows how policy against the indigenous peoples was colonialist and designed to seize the territories of the original inhabitants, displacing or eliminating them. and as dunbar-ortiz reveals, this policy was praised in popular culture, through writers like james fenimore cooper and walt whitman, and in the highest offices of government and the military. jesup, who, in 1836, wrote of the seminoles: “the country can be rid of them only by exterminating them.” spanning more than four hundred years, this classic bottom-up peoples’ history radically reframes us history and explodes the silences that have haunted our national narrative. – an indigenous peoples' history of the united states is a 2015 pen oakland-josephine miles award for excellence in literature.

Remini explores the arrival and migration of native americans throughout the western hemisphere and their achievements; the discovery of the new world by europeans and the establishment of colonies by the spanish, french, english, and dutch; the causes of the american revolution; the founding of a republic under the constitution; the formation of political parties; the war of 1812 and the resulting economic and cultural changes; the democratic impetus during the jacksonian era; westward expansion and the mexican war; the struggle over slavery, which led to the civil war; reconstruction and the rise of big business; the emergence of the united states as a world power; the descent into the great depression; the global conflicts of the twentieth century; the rise of conservatism; and the outbreak of terrorism here and abroad. in addition, remini illustrates how former english subjects slowly transformed themselves into americans, and shows how a collection of sovereign, independent colonies united to create a workable, constantly evolving republican government whose democratic principles reflect the changing mores and attitudes of the citizens it represents. he explains the reasons for the nation's unique and enduring strengths, its artistic and cultural accomplishments, its genius in developing new products to sell to the world, and its abiding commitment to individual freedoms–from publisher description.

The new york times bestseller a new york times notable and critics' top book of 2016longlisted for the pen/john kenneth galbraith award for nonfiction – one of npr's 10 best books of 2016 faced tough topics head on – npr's book concierge guide to 2016's great reads – san francisco chronicle's best of 2016: 100 recommended books "when you turn an election into a three-ring circus, there's always a chance that the dancing bear will win," says isenberg of the political climate surrounding sarah palin. yet the voters who boosted trump all the way to the white house have been a permanent part of our american fabric, argues isenberg. the wretched and landless poor have existed from the time of the earliest british colonial settlement to today's hillbillies. they were alternately known as "waste people," "offals," "rubbish," "lazy lubbers," and "crackers." by the 1850s, the downtrodden included so-called "clay eaters" and "sandhillers," known for prematurely aged children distinguished by their yellowish skin, ragged clothing, and listless minds. surveying political rhetoric and policy, popular literature and scientific theories over four hundred years, isenberg upends assumptions about america's supposedly class-free society–where liberty and hard work were meant to ensure real social mobility. poor whites were central to the rise of the republican party in the early nineteenth century, and the civil war itself was fought over class issues nearly as much as it was fought over slavery. reconstruction pitted poor white trash against newly freed slaves, which factored in the rise of eugenics–a widely popular movement embraced by theodore roosevelt that targeted poor whites for sterilization. these poor were at the heart of new deal reforms and lbj's great society; they haunt us in reality tv shows like here comes honey boo boo and duck dynasty. marginalized as a class, white trash have always been at or near the center of major political debates over the character of the american identity.

"i too am not a bit tamed–i too am untranslatable / i sound my barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world."–walt whitman, "song of myself," leaves of grass the american yawp is a free, online, collaboratively built american history textbook. over 300 historians joined together to create the book they wanted for their own students–an accessible, synthetic narrative that reflects the best of recent historical scholarship and provides a jumping-off point for discussions in the u.s. history classroom and beyond. long before whitman and long after, americans have sung something collectively amid the deafening roar of their many individual voices. without losing sight of politics and power, the american yawp incorporates transnational perspectives, integrates diverse voices, recovers narratives of resistance, and explores the complex process of cultural creation. it looks for america in crowded slave cabins, bustling markets, congested tenements, and marbled halls. it navigates between maternity wards, prisons, streets, bars, and boardrooms. the fully peer-reviewed edition of the american yawp will be available in two print volumes designed for the u.s. history survey. volume i begins with the indigenous people who called the americas home before chronicling the collision of native americans, europeans, and africans.the american yawp traces the development of colonial society in the context of the larger atlantic world and investigates the origins and ruptures of slavery, the american revolution, and the new nation's development and rebirth through the civil war and reconstruction.

Book 1, explorers and settlers, covers native american civilizations through the american revolution. each chapter opens with a vocabulary section of 5 to 10 words with pronunciations. passages are followed by multiple choice, fill in the blank, and true/false questions with a writing and discussion element at the end of the chapter. there is a review test after chapter 7 and a final cumulative test.

Book 1, explorers and settlers, covers native american civilizations through the american revolution. each chapter opens with a vocabulary section of 5 to 10 words with pronunciations. passages are followed by multiple choice, fill in the blank, and true/false questions with a writing and discussion element at the end of the chapter. there is a review test after chapter 7 and a final cumulative test.

Two courses here, at different grade levels. teaching a providential view of america's story, and using a literature approach, these guides break down the study into daily lesson plans, spanning the vikings to the civil war (1000 a.d. to 1865). students keep notebooks of their work throughout the year. lesson plans include various activities to correlate with the study as students read their way through history, consuming some of the best age-appropriate historical literature. newly revised guides are expanded and now in full color. they also include web links, comprehension questions, character studies and more activities.#dynamicfield1#

Since its original landmark publication in 1980, "a people's history of the united states" has been chronicling american history from the bottom up, throwing out the official version of history taught in schools–with its emphasis on great men in high places–to focus on the street, the home, and the, workplace. known for its lively, clear prose as well as its scholarly research, "a people's history" is the only volume to tell america's story from the point of view of–and in the words of–america's women, factory workers, african-americans, native americans, the working poor, and immigrant laborers.as historian howard zinn shows, many of our country's greatest battles—the fights for a fair wage, an eight-hour workday, child-labor laws, health and safety standards, universal suffrage, women's rights, racial equality–were carried out at the grassroots level, against bloody resistance. covering christopher columbus's arrival through president clinton's first term, "a people's history of the united states, " which was nominated for the american book award in 1981, features insightful analysis of the most important events in our history. revised, updated, and featuring a new after, word by the author, this special twentieth anniversary edition continues zinn's important contribution to a complete and balanced understanding of american history.

Since its original landmark publication in 1980, "a people's history of the united states" has been chronicling american history from the bottom up, throwing out the official version of history taught in schools–with its emphasis on great men in high places–to focus on the street, the home, and the, workplace. known for its lively, clear prose as well as its scholarly research, "a people's history" is the only volume to tell america's story from the point of view of–and in the words of–america's women, factory workers, african-americans, native americans, the working poor, and immigrant laborers.as historian howard zinn shows, many of our country's greatest battles—the fights for a fair wage, an eight-hour workday, child-labor laws, health and safety standards, universal suffrage, women's rights, racial equality–were carried out at the grassroots level, against bloody resistance. covering christopher columbus's arrival through president clinton's first term, "a people's history of the united states, " which was nominated for the american book award in 1981, features insightful analysis of the most important events in our history. revised, updated, and featuring a new after, word by the author, this special twentieth anniversary edition continues zinn's important contribution to a complete and balanced understanding of american history.