Description

Book Synopsis

A Companion to 19th-Century America is an authoritative overview of current historiographical developments and major themes in the history of nineteenth-century America. Twenty-seven scholars, all specialists in their own thematic areas, examine the key debates and historiography. A thematic and chronological organization brings together the major time periods, politics, the Civil War, economy, and social and cultural history of the nineteenth century. Written with the general reader in mind, each essay surveys the historical research, the emerging concerns, and assesses the future direction of scholarship.

  • Complete coverage of all the major themes and current debates in nineteenth-century US history assessing the state of the scholarship and future concerns.
  • 24 original essays by leading experts in nineteenth-century American history complete with up-to-date bibliographies.
  • Chronological and thematic organization covers both traditional and con

    Trade Review
    “This volume proves that examining previous interpretations is an important task that can be thought-provoking and creative. The result is a group of compelling essays that highlight existing scholarship while providing a glimpse of avenues for future interpretation. A commendable characteristic of these essays is the decision to focus on the most relevant questions and scholarship. The essays are all concisely written … .The exhaustive bibliography will provide ample source material for readers intrigued by a particular topic or essay. For students and scholars who seek to expand or refresh their knowledge of important scholarship, this volume shows that with the right approach, historiography can indeed be both savory and beneficial.” (Journal of Southern History, November 2008)

    “This series marks a major milestone in historiography and has no comparable, contemporary counterpart... The writing is jargon free, straightforward, and accessible to the scholar and sophisticated student as well as the general reader." (History: Reviews of New Books)

    "The volume fulfils its mission admirably: teachers will get their students up to speed by recommending chapters...They will also find many essays a ready means of enrichment and updating." (Journal of American Studies)



    Table of Contents

    Contributors vii

    Introduction 1
    William L. Barney

    PART I: POLITICS AND PUBLIC LIFE

    1 Early National Politics and Power, 1800±1824 5
    Robert M. S. McDonald

    2 The Jacksonian Era, 1825±1844 19
    Jonathan Atkins

    3 The Sectionalization of Politics, 1845±1860 33
    John Ashworth

    4 Civil War and Reconstruction, 1861±1877 47
    Vernon Burton

    5 The Gilded Age, 1878±1900 61
    Robert W. Cherny and William L. Barney

    6 American Law in the Nineteenth Century 73
    John E. Semonche

    PART II: FOREIGN RELATIONS

    7 American Expansion, 1800±1867 89
    John M. Belohlavek

    8 The Global Emergence of the United States, 1867±1900 104
    Eric Rauchway

    PART III: THE ECONOMY AND CLASS FORMATIONS

    9 The Emergence of a Market Economy before 1860 121
    Stanley L. Engerman and Robert E. Gallman

    10 Industrialization and the Rise of Corporations, 1860±1900 139
    David B. Sicilia

    11 Urbanization 152
    Timothy J. Gilfoyle

    12 The Development of the Working Classes 164
    Kevin Kenny

    13 The Evolution of the Middle Class 178
    Cindy S. Aron

    PART IV: RACE, GENDER, AND ETHNICITY

    14 African Americans 195
    Donald R. Wright

    15 Native-American History 209
    Michael D. Green and Theda Perdue

    16 Gender and the Changing Roles of Women 223
    Laura F. Edwards

    17 Immigration and Ethnicity 238
    Nora Faires

    PART V: REGIONAL PERSPECTIVES

    18 The South: From Old to New 257
    Stephen W. Berry

    19 The Middle West 272
    Andrew R. L. Cayton

    20 The Relational West 286
    Molly P. Rozum

    PART VI: CULTURES AND IDEAS

    21 The Communications Revolution and Popular Culture 303
    David Hochfelder

    22 Interpreting American Religion 317
    Catherine A. Brekus

    23 Science and Technology 334
    Alan I. Marcus

    24 A History/Historiography of Representations of America 345
    Barbara Groseclose

    Bibliography 359

    Index 399

A Companion to 19thCentury America

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    A Paperback / softback by William Barney

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      Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd
      Publication Date: Publication Date: 10/01/2006
      ISBN13: 9781405149822, 978-1405149822
      ISBN10: 1405149825

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      A Companion to 19th-Century America is an authoritative overview of current historiographical developments and major themes in the history of nineteenth-century America. Twenty-seven scholars, all specialists in their own thematic areas, examine the key debates and historiography. A thematic and chronological organization brings together the major time periods, politics, the Civil War, economy, and social and cultural history of the nineteenth century. Written with the general reader in mind, each essay surveys the historical research, the emerging concerns, and assesses the future direction of scholarship.

      • Complete coverage of all the major themes and current debates in nineteenth-century US history assessing the state of the scholarship and future concerns.
      • 24 original essays by leading experts in nineteenth-century American history complete with up-to-date bibliographies.
      • Chronological and thematic organization covers both traditional and con

        Trade Review
        “This volume proves that examining previous interpretations is an important task that can be thought-provoking and creative. The result is a group of compelling essays that highlight existing scholarship while providing a glimpse of avenues for future interpretation. A commendable characteristic of these essays is the decision to focus on the most relevant questions and scholarship. The essays are all concisely written … .The exhaustive bibliography will provide ample source material for readers intrigued by a particular topic or essay. For students and scholars who seek to expand or refresh their knowledge of important scholarship, this volume shows that with the right approach, historiography can indeed be both savory and beneficial.” (Journal of Southern History, November 2008)

        “This series marks a major milestone in historiography and has no comparable, contemporary counterpart... The writing is jargon free, straightforward, and accessible to the scholar and sophisticated student as well as the general reader." (History: Reviews of New Books)

        "The volume fulfils its mission admirably: teachers will get their students up to speed by recommending chapters...They will also find many essays a ready means of enrichment and updating." (Journal of American Studies)



        Table of Contents

        Contributors vii

        Introduction 1
        William L. Barney

        PART I: POLITICS AND PUBLIC LIFE

        1 Early National Politics and Power, 1800±1824 5
        Robert M. S. McDonald

        2 The Jacksonian Era, 1825±1844 19
        Jonathan Atkins

        3 The Sectionalization of Politics, 1845±1860 33
        John Ashworth

        4 Civil War and Reconstruction, 1861±1877 47
        Vernon Burton

        5 The Gilded Age, 1878±1900 61
        Robert W. Cherny and William L. Barney

        6 American Law in the Nineteenth Century 73
        John E. Semonche

        PART II: FOREIGN RELATIONS

        7 American Expansion, 1800±1867 89
        John M. Belohlavek

        8 The Global Emergence of the United States, 1867±1900 104
        Eric Rauchway

        PART III: THE ECONOMY AND CLASS FORMATIONS

        9 The Emergence of a Market Economy before 1860 121
        Stanley L. Engerman and Robert E. Gallman

        10 Industrialization and the Rise of Corporations, 1860±1900 139
        David B. Sicilia

        11 Urbanization 152
        Timothy J. Gilfoyle

        12 The Development of the Working Classes 164
        Kevin Kenny

        13 The Evolution of the Middle Class 178
        Cindy S. Aron

        PART IV: RACE, GENDER, AND ETHNICITY

        14 African Americans 195
        Donald R. Wright

        15 Native-American History 209
        Michael D. Green and Theda Perdue

        16 Gender and the Changing Roles of Women 223
        Laura F. Edwards

        17 Immigration and Ethnicity 238
        Nora Faires

        PART V: REGIONAL PERSPECTIVES

        18 The South: From Old to New 257
        Stephen W. Berry

        19 The Middle West 272
        Andrew R. L. Cayton

        20 The Relational West 286
        Molly P. Rozum

        PART VI: CULTURES AND IDEAS

        21 The Communications Revolution and Popular Culture 303
        David Hochfelder

        22 Interpreting American Religion 317
        Catherine A. Brekus

        23 Science and Technology 334
        Alan I. Marcus

        24 A History/Historiography of Representations of America 345
        Barbara Groseclose

        Bibliography 359

        Index 399

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