American history: a survey
Encyclopedia
American History: A Survey is a textbook first published in 1961 that was written initially by the historians Richard N. Current
, T. Harry Williams
, and Frank Freidel
and later by Alan Brinkley
, the Allan Nevins professor of history at Columbia University
. The book provides a comprehensive account of United States history spanning from the arrival of Christopher Columbus
to the age of globalization in the most recent editions. As of March 2011, the current edition is the 13th published in 2009.
This textbook has been commonly used in AP United States History
classes and in college survey courses.
In the preface to the book, Brinkley states his purpose is "to be a thorough, balanced, and versatile account of America's past that instructors and students will find accessible and appropriate no matter what approach to the a past a course chooses." This text is one of the most balanced textbooks; it gives fair coverage to the history and perspectives of the different cultures and peoples that compose America.
American History: A Survey includes supplemental features such as "Where Historians Disagree" essays, which allow students to understand the controversial nature of much of America's past. This feature encourages students to think for themselves about what different aspects of U.S. history actually mean. The text also incorporates full-color maps with captions and chapter introductions that focus on main themes of the chapter.
Richard N. Current
Richard Nelson Current is an American historian.-Life:He graduated from Oberlin College, from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy with an M.A., and from the University of Wisconsin with a Ph.D. in history in 1940...
, T. Harry Williams
T. Harry Williams
Thomas Harry Williams was an award-winning historian at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge whose career began in 1941 and extended for thirty-eight years until his death at the age of seventy...
, and Frank Freidel
Frank Freidel
Frank Freidel was the first major biographer of former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and one of the first scholars to work in the Franklin D. Roosevelt Papers at Hyde Park, New York...
and later by Alan Brinkley
Alan Brinkley
Alan Brinkley is the Allan Nevins Professor of History at Columbia University, where he was also Provost 2003–2009. He was denied tenure at Harvard University in 1986 despite being an award-winning teacher. He lives in New York City with his wife, Evangeline, daughter Elly, and dog Jessie...
, the Allan Nevins professor of history at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. The book provides a comprehensive account of United States history spanning from the arrival of Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
to the age of globalization in the most recent editions. As of March 2011, the current edition is the 13th published in 2009.
This textbook has been commonly used in AP United States History
AP United States History
Advanced Placement United States History is a course and examination offered by the College Board as part of the Advanced Placement Program...
classes and in college survey courses.
Content
American History: A Survey is organized in a way that reflects a high school-level U.S. history course. The chapters follow the nation's history chronologically, and the subheadings allow instructors to select portions of chapters to suit their syllabi.In the preface to the book, Brinkley states his purpose is "to be a thorough, balanced, and versatile account of America's past that instructors and students will find accessible and appropriate no matter what approach to the a past a course chooses." This text is one of the most balanced textbooks; it gives fair coverage to the history and perspectives of the different cultures and peoples that compose America.
American History: A Survey includes supplemental features such as "Where Historians Disagree" essays, which allow students to understand the controversial nature of much of America's past. This feature encourages students to think for themselves about what different aspects of U.S. history actually mean. The text also incorporates full-color maps with captions and chapter introductions that focus on main themes of the chapter.
Usage
In 2004, American History: A Survey was found to be used in 14 of 258 U.S. history survey college courses, which made it the fifth most popular textbook. At universities (as opposed to community and junior colleges) it was the fourth most popular textbook.Editions
- 1st edition, 1961, OCLC 1118352
- 2nd edition, 1966
- 3rd edition, 1971
- 4th edition, 1974, ISBN 0394318633
- 5th edition, 1979
- 6th edition, 1983
- 7th edition, 1986
- 8th edition, 1991, ISBN 0070150265
- 9th edition, 1997
- 10th edition, 1999, ISBN 0073033901
- 11th edition, 2003, ISBN 0072424362
- 12th edition, 2007, ISBN 0073124923
- 13th edition, 2009, ISBN 0073385492