A Student S Guide To U S History

A lively, concise guide to the events and ideas that have shaped America over the centuries. No nation in modern history has had a more powerful sense of its own distinctiveness than the United States. Yet few Americans understand the immensely varied sources of that sense and the fascinating debates that have always swirled around our attempts to define “America” with greater precision. All too many have come to regard the study of their national history as tedious, just as they fail to embrace the past as something in which they must be consciously grounded. In this introduction to the study of American history, Wilfred M. McClay invites us to experience the perennial freshness and vitality of this great subject as he explores some of the enduring commitments and persistent tensions that have made America what it is.

A thoughtful look at the value of learning from the past: “Nobody has done more than John Lukacs to turn the short history book into an art form” (Antony Beevor, Toronto Globe & Mail). To study history is to learn about oneself. And to fail to grasp the importance of the past—to remain ignorant of the deeds and writing of previous generations—is to bind oneself by the passions and prejudices of the age into which one is born. John Lukacs, one of today’s most widely published historians, explains what the study of history entails, how it has been approached over the centuries, and why it should be undertaken by today’s students. This guide is an invitation to become a master of the historian’s craft.

Based on the popular "History Matters" Web site developed by the Center for History and New Media, this unique resource combines reviews of 250 of the most useful and reliable U.S. history Web sites with an introduction that guides students in locating, evaluating, and correctly citing online sources. Chosen and annotated by a group of Internet-savvy scholars, the Web sites offer opportunities for researching broad themes as well as special topics and regions. They feature a range of sources, including primary documents, maps, art, photographs, statistics, and audio and video recordings. The informative introduction and intelligent apparatus help students make the most of these resources.

Whether you are taking your first college-level history course or are majoring in history, this best-selling guide provides tools that will help you to improve your performance: Guidelines for tackling common history assignments, with practical examples and concise explanations. Step-by-step advice on coming up with an effective thesis or argument for your paper. Comprehensive coverage of conducting research, with an emphasis on using the Internet to locate reliable sources. An appendix that highlights the most helpful print and digital resources for starting your research. Guidelines for documenting sources, with over one hundred models that illustrate proper footnote/endnote and bibliography style for a variety of print and electronic sources. A Studentÿs Online Guide to History Reference Sources offers an easy-to-navigate, linked version of Appendix A "Resources for History Research," as well as complete contact information for state, local, and professional history organizations. Book jacket.

Printed in color. U.S. History is designed to meet the scope and sequence requirements of most introductory courses. The text provides a balanced approach to U.S. history, considering the people, events, and ideas that have shaped the United States from both the top down (politics, economics, diplomacy) and bottom up (eyewitness accounts, lived experience). U.S. History covers key forces that form the American experience, with particular attention to issues of race, class, and gender.