The American Promise: A History of the United States, to 1877

by Woody Holton

First published 2004

This comprehensive survey of American history weaves together political developments and social movements from the nation's founding through the Civil War era. The narrative draws on voices from across American society, featuring presidents alongside pipefitters, sharecroppers, and suffragettes to illuminate major historical trends through individual experiences. Students encounter over 775 period illustrations and more than 180 full-color maps that enhance geographic understanding. Special features include primary source collections in "Documenting the American Promise," analytical essays in "Historical Questions," examinations of technological progress in "The Promise of Technology," and international perspectives in "Beyond America's Borders." The book balances political history with social movements, making complex historical concepts accessible through personal stories. This approach helps readers understand both sweeping national changes and the lived experiences of ordinary Americans during the republic's formative centuries.

Genres: history, non-fiction, academic, american-history

Vibes: educational, intimate, thought-provoking

Tropes: historical-fiction, social-movements

Setting: America, United States

Period: 19th-century, Revolutionary Era, Civil War Era

Unbound · Bedford/St. Martin's

Content warnings: slavery

More by Woody Holton

• Unruly Americans and the Origins of the Constitution
• American Promise Value Edition 4e V1 & Reading the American Past 4e V1 & Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass 2e & Defending Slavery
• Understanding The American Promise V1 & U.S. War with Mexico & Black Americans in the Revolutionary Era
• Age of McCarthyism 2e & Black Americans in the Revolutionary Era & Hospital Sketches
• Liberty Is Sweet

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