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- 1491. By Charles C. Mann. This must-read blend of history and science contends that the common understanding of life in the Americas before the arrival of European explorers is almost completely wrong.
- The Island at the Center of the World. By Russell Shorto. With wit and style, Shorto documents life in 17th-century New Netherland, and its capital, New Amsterdam, revealing the Dutch colony’s influence on the American character.
- Washington's Crossing. By David Hackett Fischer. Memorialized in Emanuel Leutze’s iconic—but historically inaccurate—painting, the December 1776 assault on Hessian troops stationed in Trenton, New Jersey was a crucial victory for George Washington and the Continental Army following a string of devastating defeats in New York.
- Founding Brothers. By Joseph J. Ellis. As Ellis makes clear, the decades that followed the American Revolution and the Constitutional Convention were anything but tranquil.
Jun 27, 2006 · Explore the rich tapestry of America's past with these influential books on American history. Discover the narratives and insights that rank at the top of reading lists from esteemed publications and history blogs.
- A People’s History of The United States by Howard Zinn
- 1776 by David Mccullough
- Empire of The Summer Moon by S. C. Gwynne
- Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation by Joseph J. Ellis
- Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin
- Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era by James M. Mcpherson
- Narrative of The Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass
- The Guns of August by Barbara W. Tuchman
- 1491: New Revelations of The Americas Before Columbus by Charles C. Mann
- John Adams by David Mccullough
“Known for its lively, clear prose as well as its scholarly research, it 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.”
“It is the story of Americans in the ranks, men of every shape, size, and color, farmers, schoolteachers, shoemakers, no-accounts, and mere boys turned soldiers. And it is the story of the King’s men, the British commander, William Howe, and his highly disciplined redcoats who looked on their rebel foes with contempt and fought with a valor too lit...
“The war with the Comanches lasted four decades, in effect holding up the development of the new American nation. Gwynne’s exhilarating account delivers a sweeping narrative that encompasses Spanish colonialism, the Civil War, the destruction of the buffalo herds, and the arrival of the railroads, and the amazing story of Cynthia Ann Parker and her...
“Ellis argues that the checks and balances that permitted the infant American republic to endure were not primarily legal, constitutional, or institutional, but intensely personal, rooted in the dynamic interaction of leaders with quite different visions and values. Revisiting the old-fashioned idea that character matters, Founding Brothers informs...
“We view the long, horrifying struggle from the vantage of the White House as Lincoln copes with incompetent generals, hostile congressmen, and his raucous cabinet. He overcomes these obstacles by winning the respect of his former competitors, and in the case of Seward, finds a loyal and crucial friend to see him through. This brilliant multiple bi...
“Particularly notable are McPherson’s new views on such matters as the slavery expansion issue in the 1850s, the origins of the Republican Party, the causes of secession, internal dissent and anti-war opposition in the North and the South, and the reasons for the Union’s victory.”
“In this, the first and most frequently read of his three autobiographies, Douglassprovides graphic descriptions of his childhood and horrifying experiences as a slave as well as a harrowing record of his dramatic escape to the North and eventual freedom. Published in 1845 to quell doubts about his origins — since few slaves of that period could wr...
“In this landmark, Pulitzer Prize–winning account, renowned historian Barbara W. Tuchman re-creates the first month of World War I: thirty days in the summer of 1914 that determined the course of the conflict, the century, and ultimately our present world. Beginning with the funeral of Edward VII, Tuchman traces each step that led to the inevitable...
“Contrary to what so many Americans learn in school, the pre-Columbian Indians were not sparsely settled in a pristine wilderness; rather, there were huge numbers of Indians who actively molded and influenced the land around them. The astonishing Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan had running water and immaculately clean streets, and was larger than any...
“This is history on a grand scale—a book about politics and war and social issues, but also about human nature, love, religious faith, virtue, ambition, friendship, and betrayal, and the far-reaching consequences of noble ideas. Above all, John Adams is an enthralling, often surprising story of one of the most important and fascinating Americans wh...
U.S. History Primary Source Timeline. Explore important topics and moments in U.S. history through historical primary sources from the Library of Congress. Colonial Settlement, 1600s - 1763; The American Revolution, 1763 - 1783; The New Nation, 1783 - 1815; National Expansion and Reform, 1815 - 1880; Civil War and Reconstruction, 1861-1877
May 13, 2024 · Want to look beyond the most common myths about American history and get to the truth about our country’s past? To help you out, we’ve created a well-rounded reading list that offers a wide-ranging history of the United States, as told from different perspectives.
Important dates through the chronology of the United States. For a good timeline, check out the America's Best History Timeline, which counts down the five most important events of most years in American history from the 1400's to the present day, with detailed entries for more information.
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From the essential biography of a Founding Father to eye-opening examinations of slavery to de-bunking our nation’s biggest myths, these are the 10 best U.S. history books you should know.
