Who Built America? Working People and the Nation's Economy, Politics, Culture, and Society, Vol. 1

by Bruce C. Levine

First published 1990

This American history centers on working people and their experiences from colonial times through the late 1800s. Levine examines their thoughts, actions, and struggles during major historical periods. The narrative moves from early conquest and colonization through industrial growth, covering the Civil War, Reconstruction, and culminating with the Great Uprising of 1877. Rather than focusing on political leaders and elite figures, this account prioritizes the perspectives and experiences of ordinary laborers. The book reveals how working Americans shaped and were shaped by pivotal moments in the nation's development, offering readers insight into the lives of those who built the country through their daily work and collective action.

Genres: 20th-century, 19th-century

Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking

Tropes: historical-fiction, social-justice

Setting: America

Period: Colonial, Civil War, Reconstruction, Late 1800s

606 pages · Hardcover · Pantheon

More by Bruce C. Levine

• The Fall of the House of Dixie
• Thaddeus Stevens
• Confederate Emancipation
• The Spirit of 1848
• Half Slave and Half Free

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