Chronological and thematic organization covers both traditional and con
Trade Review
“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
"William Barney has assembled a talented and diverse group of scholars, including some of the most eminent historians in the field and a number of the brightest young scholars working in this period. Given the complexity of the period and richness of scholarship, this book does an excellent job summarizing the existing literature and suggesting new directions for future research." Saul Cornell, Ohio State University
"Anyone who cares about the history of the United States will find this book of great interest and value. The authors cover every important facet of American history in this pivotal century and do so with grace, fairness, and confidence. The essays are as engaging as they they are sophisticated and up to date." Edward L. Ayers, University of Virginia
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
