The American People: Creating a Nation and a Society

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 Brief Second Edition reflects revisions made in the third edition of the full-length volume. There is increased attention to environmental history, including a section on the dust bowl of the 1930s and consideration of the environment in chapters on industrialization and sections on farming. Chapter 9, Society and Politics in the Early Republic, has been revised and reorganized to include an examination of the society and economy of preindustrial America. The final chapters of the book feature new discussions and analysis of economic and demographic changes during the last decades of the twentieth century. Carefully abridged to preserve the authors' distinctive voice, the Brief Second Edition is perfect for one-semester courses or those using extensive supplementary readings. Available in a single volume edition and in two volumes, The American People, Brief Second Edition, fits any course structure.