Pennsylvania

by Miller, Randall M.; Pencak, William A.

• ISBN13: 9780271022130
• ISBN10: 0271022132
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-11-01
• Publisher: Pennsylvania State Univ Pr

Summary

The Keystone State, so nicknamed because it was geographically situated in the middle of the thirteen original colonies and played a crucial role in the founding of the United States, has remained at the heart of American history. Created partly as a safe haven for people from all walks of life, Pennsylvania is today the home of diverse cultures, religions, ethnic groups, social classes, and occupations. Many ideas, institutions, and interests that were first formed or tested in Pennsylvania spread across America and beyond, and continue to inform American culture, society, and politics. This book tells that story -- and more. It recenters Pennsylvania in the American historical narrative.

Pennsylvania: A History of the Commonwealth offers fresh perspectives on the Keystone State from a distinguished array of scholars who view the history of this Commonwealth critically and honestly, using the latest and best scholarship to give a modern account of Pennsylvania's past. They do so by emphasizing the evolution of Pennsylvania as a place and an idea. The book, t

Table of Contents

Foreword: The Value of Pennsylvania History	p. IX
Preface	p. XVII
Introduction: Why Should We Care About Pennsylvania History?	p. XXV
The History
The First Pennsylvanians	p. 3
Encounter and Experiment: The Colonial Period	p. 47
The Promise of Revolution: 1750-1800	p. 101
Building Democratic Communities: 1800-1850	p. 153
Civil Wars: 1850-1900	p. 203
Reforming the Commonwealth: 1900-1950	p. 257
The Postindustrial Age: 1950-2000	p. 317
Epilogue: The Making and Unmaking of the Pennsylvanian Empire	p. 371
Ways to Pennsylvania's Past
Geography	p. 389
Architecture	p. 411
Archaeology	p. 439
Folklore and Folklife	p. 459
Genealogy	p. 481
Photography	p. 501
Art	p. 527
Oral History	p. 553
Literature	p. 575
Popular Vote for Governor of Pennsylvania, 1633-1998	p. 595
Select Bibliography	p. 601
Contributors	p. 610
Illustration Credits	p. 614
Index	p. 622
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