The American Experiment A History of the United States

by Gillon, Steven M.; Matson, Cathy D.

• ISBN13: 9780618429493
• ISBN10: 0618429492
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-12-15
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

Approaching the American History survey course in an innovative way, this mid-length text features a more expansive definition of political history. The American Experiment includes all forms of politics, not just electoral politics, while simultaneously incorporating cultural history. With the specific aim of expanding history beyond elite actors, The American Experiment emphasizes everyday work, family life, customs, and objects of cultural history to address its four themes of government, identity, culture, and America and the world. The Second Edition retains the hallmark pedagogical approach of the previous edition. Marginal icons link students to the companion web site for interactive maps. Several chapter-opening features introduce students to the key themes of the text; these themes are revisited in the Conclusion. Each chapter concludes with a list of suggested readings, providing students with further opportunities for research.

Table of Contents

Out of Old Worlds, New Worlds The First Americans, to 1500

Old World Peoples in Africa and Europe, to 1500

Europe's Internal Transformation, 1400–1600

From Across the Seas, 1420–1600

Competing Voices:Interpreting the Cultures of Strangers

The First Experiments, 1540–1680

Struggles for New World Dominion, 1540–1680

England's Southern Plantings, 1607–1680

The New England Colonies, 1620–1680

Colonists and Indians: Coexistence and Conflict, 1630–1680

Competing Voices:Race, Land, and Political Rights on the Frontier Competing Interpretations:Why Slavery?

Imperial Connections, 1660–1748

The Restoration Colonies, 1660–1685

Shaping Imperial Commerce Crises at Home and Abroad, 1685–1700

Politics and Culture in the New Century, 1700–1748

Competing Voices:Colonial and Imperial Views of the Assemblies

Colonial Maturation and Conflict, 1680–1754

Growth and Diversity in the Colonies Varieties of Life in the North Varieties of Life in the South Maturity Brings Conflict, 1739–1754

Competing Voices:Two Views About Transatlantic Slave Trading

Forging the American Experiment, 1754–1775

The Great War for the Empire, 1754–1763

Rethinking Empire, 1763–1765

Deepening Commitment, Rising Violence, 1765–1770

Toward Independence, 1770–1773

Forging a Political Community, 1774–1775

Competing Voices:The Southern Frontier Erupts

Winning Independence, 1775–1783

The Decision for Independence, 1775–1776

The Revolution in Earnest, 1776–1778

The Character of War The New Republican Order Winning the War, 1778–1783

Competing Voices:War's Miseries: Two Views Competing Interpretations:What Kind of Revolution?

The Federal Experiment, 1783–1800

The Critical Period, 1783-1787

The National Founding Forming a National Government Federalists versus Democratic-Republicans Factions

Interests, and American Identity Competing Voices:Subduing the Old Northwest

Striving for Nationhood, 1800–1824

Democratic-Republicans in Power Expansion and the Agrarian Republic America in the World, 1800–1815

Competing Voices:Irish Immigrants and the Forging of American Identity Competing

Interpretations:Thomas Jefferson's America

An Emerging Capitalist Nation, 1790–1820

New Social Identities Transforming the Empire for Liberty New Regional Identities

Tensions in the Empire for Liberty Competing Images:Houses in the Early Republic

Transforming the Political Culture, 1820–1840

Popular Politics, 1820–1828

The Jacksonian Persuasion The Experiment in Action, 1829–1836

Dissenting Strains, 1832–1840

Competing Voices:Cherokee Removal Competing Interpretations:Antebellum Democracy

Industry and Reform in the North, 1820–1850

Immigration and Urbanization The Accelerating Industrial Experiment Varieties of Social Reform Competing Voices:Two Views on Working Conditions

Living with Slavery, North and South, 1820–1850

Abolition and Antislavery Movements Southern Society African-American

Culture Planters and Yeomen Competing Voices:Southern White Views of Slavery

The Westward Experiment, 1820–185

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