Why You Need A Little History of the United States
Not for the names, places and dates. For that, there’s an encyclopedia or the Web. This book is for those who want to think about what it all means. And in today’s tumultuous world, we sorely need to ponder these essentials.
As a child you were likely bombarded by American history, beginning in elementary school. Then you took a one- or even two-year middle-school course, received yet another dose in high school and perhaps had the chance to run the gauntlet one more time in college. The texts for these courses run anywhere from 700 to 1000 pages.
But how much of that material do you remember? Not as much as you’d like—at least in a way that makes sense of the immense jumble of facts.
A thousand pages is too much. A Little History takes a different tack. Forty chapters, each roughly six or seven pages long. Each dealing with a key event, movement or idea.
What happens when Columbus launches the first sustained contact between the world’s two hemispheres? How does disease reshape the American landscape? Why is it important to understand the history of inequality as much as the story of equality? In what way is the American Revolution more than a rebellion? What leads us to the Civil War, the greatest failure of our democratic republic? How do industrial systems transform America in the nineteenth century? Why does the United States emerge as a superpower at the end of World War II? What does it mean to be a global republic at the beginning of the twenty-first century?
If the United States is to survive and prosper, we need to understand the answers to these questions. All of us. Democracy doesn’t work if its citizens suffer from historical amnesia.
If I really wanted to sell this book, I’d say it’s perfect for jumping here and there, to read whatever topics interest you. Fine, if you want. But in truth, A Little History is meant to convey the larger sweep of events. Your country deserves a closer look and a more systematic approach!
If you’re serious about giving American history a second, thoughtful look, here’s one way to proceed. First get the book. The paperback is little more than $10; the more durable hardback can be had for under $20. Next, download the free Exploration Handbook designed to accompany A Little History, available here. Then plunge in, reading from start to finish. Cover all 500 years, but don’t rush. Maybe only a chapter a day—each one will take fifteen or twenty minutes. Read carefully. As you finish each chapter, look at the relevant pages in the Exploration Handbook to focus on what you’ve read. Think about the questions in the handbook. Yes, this sounds a bit like homework, but it’s a way of nailing down the stories and themes. Then they’ll stick with you.
Once you’ve read from start to finish, return to areas you find interesting and dig deeper, in books mentioned in the Exploration Handbook or on the Web. A Little History of the United States is meant to start your journey rather than end it. But now you have a foundation that allows you to think more clearly about where the nation has been and where it’s going.
The history of our republic is worth examining. Do it now! For the sheer enjoyment. For the intellectual engagement. For the sake of the nation. A democratic republic can survive only if it boasts an informed and engaged citizenry.
Sincerely,
James West Davidson
As a child you were likely bombarded by American history, beginning in elementary school. Then you took a one- or even two-year middle-school course, received yet another dose in high school and perhaps had the chance to run the gauntlet one more time in college. The texts for these courses run anywhere from 700 to 1000 pages.
But how much of that material do you remember? Not as much as you’d like—at least in a way that makes sense of the immense jumble of facts.
A thousand pages is too much. A Little History takes a different tack. Forty chapters, each roughly six or seven pages long. Each dealing with a key event, movement or idea.
What happens when Columbus launches the first sustained contact between the world’s two hemispheres? How does disease reshape the American landscape? Why is it important to understand the history of inequality as much as the story of equality? In what way is the American Revolution more than a rebellion? What leads us to the Civil War, the greatest failure of our democratic republic? How do industrial systems transform America in the nineteenth century? Why does the United States emerge as a superpower at the end of World War II? What does it mean to be a global republic at the beginning of the twenty-first century?
If the United States is to survive and prosper, we need to understand the answers to these questions. All of us. Democracy doesn’t work if its citizens suffer from historical amnesia.
If I really wanted to sell this book, I’d say it’s perfect for jumping here and there, to read whatever topics interest you. Fine, if you want. But in truth, A Little History is meant to convey the larger sweep of events. Your country deserves a closer look and a more systematic approach!
If you’re serious about giving American history a second, thoughtful look, here’s one way to proceed. First get the book. The paperback is little more than $10; the more durable hardback can be had for under $20. Next, download the free Exploration Handbook designed to accompany A Little History, available here. Then plunge in, reading from start to finish. Cover all 500 years, but don’t rush. Maybe only a chapter a day—each one will take fifteen or twenty minutes. Read carefully. As you finish each chapter, look at the relevant pages in the Exploration Handbook to focus on what you’ve read. Think about the questions in the handbook. Yes, this sounds a bit like homework, but it’s a way of nailing down the stories and themes. Then they’ll stick with you.
Once you’ve read from start to finish, return to areas you find interesting and dig deeper, in books mentioned in the Exploration Handbook or on the Web. A Little History of the United States is meant to start your journey rather than end it. But now you have a foundation that allows you to think more clearly about where the nation has been and where it’s going.
The history of our republic is worth examining. Do it now! For the sheer enjoyment. For the intellectual engagement. For the sake of the nation. A democratic republic can survive only if it boasts an informed and engaged citizenry.
Sincerely,
James West Davidson