Fine coverage of a time that shaped modern America
587013
Fine coverage of a time that shaped modern America, the United States and beyond.  I understand my family history and our times better after reading this book.  I recommend it.
327956
This book presents 72 pieces from the early years of Vanity Fair, 1913-1936, when the magazine was, in the Graydon Carter's words, "the bible for the smart set." The list of noteworthy contributors is mindboggling, as is the range of subjects, which include World War I, prohibition, the stock market crash, art (early plans for a modern art museum in New York) music, movies (I especially enjoyed reading about the success of Tarzan) and people (lots of vivid character sketches of people like Harpo Marx, Joan Crawford, Babe Ruth, Cole Porter)  I was surprised at the wide range of opinions about women, particularly those of Hyman Strunsky and Anne O'Hagan.

This a pretty hefty book, and not all articles will appeal to everyone. Some of them come across as quite cynical, and there are shades of racism and other expressions of intolerance. I found the articles about the depression and the stock market crash the most interesting and at times, moving. I loved reading the words of famous writers, but found just as much pleasure in discovering new authors.

Overall, there is much to enjoy here (4.5 stars) and it is great to broaden one's perspective on the catastrophic events of those years.
4665425
A thorough chronicle of the events that shaped the early US.  My only complaint is that it's a little too "this happened, then this happened, then this happened," in contrast to the narrative power and sweep of the entries in the series covering the following periods, What Hath God Wrought and Battle Cry of Freedom.  But the level of detail and wry humor make up for that.
4843371
For many years Ive been interested in the people and events in America that influenced the first half of the nineteenth century.

The author uses seven sketches of people from John Adams to Jane Addams (yes, double d) quite effectively.  There were formative people who exercised immense influence for a more inclusive, less dogmatic approach to religion and life in America.  Some exercised their influence directly as in the case of John Adams while others were influential on the influencers as in the case of Mary Moody Emerson.

This is an impeccable piece of work.  It will be too academic for many and so cause some to abandon it.  For those who stick with the author, the cumulative case will prove worthwhile.
1701890
In his Editor's Postscript, the author alludes to how in grade school, the U.S. Constitution, its history and meaning, were basically skirted over due perhaps to time constraints by a well-meaning teacher. That may be the case for many Americans who possess just a cursory understanding of this "living document" conceived after the Revolutionary War to unify the states under a strong national government with three distinct branches. While we often rely on news pundits to explain constitutional matters such as possible violations in one of the "Articles" or an impending "Constitutional Crisis", a better tactic may be to pick up this book and spend some time diving into the Constitution's historic and intended details ( 7 Articles, with the first 3 setting out the Executive, Legislative and Judicial) and its amendments, The Bill of Rights, which ensured the document's relevancy for generations. Told through the eyes of a wise and well-connected cat named Spencer, the book traces the story through recollections told to him by Benjamin Franklin. There's a tremendous amount of information packed into 122 pages. We explore the Virginia Plan, the Connecticut Compromise, the evolution of "checks and balances" and the players who stayed the course over four months to seal the deal. This is a thoroughly absorbing read and excellent reference for young and old.
2274036
This book is a well-focused incursion into several ongoing debates in early American historiography. Anyone who has read academic history about that period in the last thirty years should be aware of the republicanism-liberalism debates as well as the arguments surrounding the development of capitalism in the early republic.

Shankman's book focuses on Pennsylvania politics during the years of the Jefferson and Madison administrations as well as the decades immediately prior and after. Pennsylvania had the most advanced and diversified economy of any of the states. For that reason, Shankman believes that the arguments among the various factions of the Jeffersonian party ended up being of great consequence. Much of the rest of the country followed Pennsylvania's lead and the broad consensus that came out of Pennsylvania in regards to the meaning of democracy and the state's role in economic development became the national consensus for the first half of the nineteenth century.

Shankman's first chapter is a superb exposition of the development of the opposition to Hamilton's economic policies and to Adam's assertion of national power in reaction to the Whiskey Rebellion and in the passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts. His exposition is concise and very even handed. On the state level, three strands of Jeffersonians emerged: the Quids, the Snyderites and the Philadelphia Democrats. Shankman delineates their differences and traces those to differences in their geographical origins and social status.

As long as they were a party of opposition these three variants were able to work together. With the election of Jefferson in 1800 their differences fractured their alliance.

This is the meaning of Shankman's title. The "crucible of conflict" is practically a mantra throughout this book. The idea is that the political debates and electoral conflicts in Pennsylvania drove the Jeffersonian's thought in directions it would not otherwise have gone. In the end, they had to either give up some of their cherished ideals or be brushed aside in state politics as irrelevant.

For example, one of the basic assumptions of the thought of the time was the idea of "the people". There was this sense that there was a common interest that united the whole populace. If no one started out from a position of too much relative wealth or political influence and if all were allowed to freely pursue their dreams then no major conflicts could develop among the people. If there was discord, it was due to distortions in the system, e.g., the judges manipulating the judicial system in defiance of the majority (the more things change...) The problem that the Jeffersonians had to face was "the creative endeavors of certain citizens were causing inequality to grow among citizens" (p. 168).

The eventual solution to the issue of equality and economic development was to allow everyone an "untrammeled right to pursue his self-interest" (p. 165).

This development is played out in Shankman's telling of the 1805 governor's race. This chapter is another incisive exposition. Shankman is an excellent writer.

One final but very important point. In his final chapter, Shankman positions his thesis in the ongoing debates that I mentioned at the beginning. He expounds on Merrill and Wilentz' point that it is easy to look back at this period and to see the development of a capitalist economy as being inevitable. They point out that while everyone back then embraced "commerce and commodity production" that that is not the same thing as capitalism (p. 240). This is a common problem in historical writings. A wide open development is seen as having been almost inevitable. One of the real strengths of Shankman's book is that he reminds us just how wild and wooly in possibility this period was. Capitalism was not inevitable. We could have gone a different way. This is a superb telling of why we went the way we did.
196425
In this historical narrative of the American Revolution, Edward Countryman explores multiple facets of British Colonial America, from social and economic issues to legislation and geographical statistics.  The American Revolution serves as a synthesis of current scholarship on the Revolution and argues that the events of American independence were as much about internal conflict and change as about independence for Britain. (xiii)

Edward Countryman is currently a University Distinguished Professor at Southern Methodist University and has written extensively about 18th century America and awarded the Bancroft Prize in 1982 for The American Revolution and Political Society in New York, 1760-1790.  At the time of publishing, very few works on the social aspects of the American Revolution had been seen and Countryman has contributed a substantial amount to this subfield of United States history.

Countryman brings his concepts together in this work, skipping over the details of bloody battles and tells the stories of the men that fought them.  Exploring rural and urban communities, socially, very little is not covered.  Mob mentality is explained fully and how it affected 18th century legislation and public opinion.  He makes claims that, with the help of individuals like Thomas Paine and his work Common Sense, the mob is actually what shifted public opinion to support organizations such as the Sons of Liberty and eventually the Continental Congress and military campaigns.  The American Revolution is written in an easy to follow, chronological manner geared to academia and greater readership offering both detailed statistical information and class analysis.

In previous works, the successful founding of the United States has typically been credited to the founders.  Countryman does offer credit here, especially to Thomas Jefferson, but relies heavily on crediting other, much lesser known names and provide a much more balanced view of how American life, identity, and culture transformed from that of its British brothers and sisters.  He also raises questions and is critical of what the framers of the Constitution had to personally gain, sharing the ideas of progressive American historian Charles A. Beard in that the Constitution marked not much more than a triumph for men who were on their way to wealth at other men's expense.

In works such as this, it is difficult to be critical.  However, in a time when slavery and Indian relationships with both Colonial and British armies had a huge impact on social life in America, Countryman's work concerning this leaves some to be desired.  Although books and articles have been written on specific geographical areas, Countryman strives to cover all areas east of the Appalachians.  New England and the middle states receive the majority of the attention in The American Revolution, leaving the southern states out in most instances, even when nothing but statistics are shown.

In this comprehensive work, the author offers a fresh look into previous publications in comparisons to each other with a fresh analyzation of the establishment of America.  To speak of the Revolution in terms of George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, John Jay and Thomas Jefferson is to understand the work of heros.  Countryman's The American Revolution is a well documented, vivd narrative that proves it was far more than that.
2645889
This book gives abbreviated glimpses at the national (and international) impact of American ingenuity since 1607. The lack of depth is fine, as the book's purpose is to introduce most to U.S. Economic history.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable read, well written, and intrigued me enough to read more on the development and impact of the telegraph.
4802524
Well written with an extremely broad coverage of a lesser known period of US history.  It covers the background of  President Taft as well as Teddy Roosevelt.  It delves into the details of the lifestyle of wealthy families of that era. The great impact of journalism of that time is revealed including Roosevelt's interaction with reporters to alter US policy in ways that have impact more than100 years later.
2423767
This enjoyable read by Thaddeus Russell examines American culture as it has been influenced by its more unsavory elements--prostitutes, blacks, "near blacks," criminals, etc.  While other histories of the United States have been written from unconventional points of view (Zinn's from the perspective of the losers), this one hops, skips, and jumps joyously from the American Revolution to Gay Liberation at the end of the twentietieth century.  Amazon's price (less than $11) makes this purchase a bargain, especially considering the abundance of information well as the hearty laughs.
3204860
In today's environment, it is refreshing to find an account of U.S. history that does not portray America as the villain.  Larry Schweikart and Michael Allen, in "A Patriot's History of the United States", tell the in-depth story of America from 1492 through the early years of the twenty-first century.

In more than 800 pages, the two authors cover all of the important topics of American history, from our independence and founding, through our westward expansion and modernization, including examination of religion, politics, race and gender relations, social trends, military history, and technological breakthroughs.  The drawback of the book is that the authors do get a few dates wrong.  On the whole, though, this work is a great history of America and would be enjoyed by anyone who believes that this country is not evil, but is the greatest nation the world has ever known.
4951988
This edition contains (as its title suggests), three landmark articles that were all published in Mc Clure's magazine in January 1903. The articles, "The Oil War of 1872" by Ida M. Tarbell; "The Shame of Minneapolis" by Lincoln Steffens; and "The Right To Work" by Ray Stannard Baker are indeed rare to find collected in one volume. Thankfully, for students of journalism and history they are collected here.
When looking at all three articles, they might seem to a 21st century reader as a little flat and not all that shocking or sensational. However, if one looks back at some of the hokey pablum that many papers and magazines employed, these articles were nothing short of a bombshell. Some of the journalism of that era smacked of boosterism or partisan sentiment, but these articles were indeed beholden to none but the truth (or as close to that moving target as you can get).
The introduction and essays that accompany these pieces do a good job of providing the reader with information about the writers. The essays also help put the events of the early 20th century into context. It is safe to say that while these essays are not necessarily flashy or earth-shattering in their conclusions, they are solid, helpful material that only give the reader a deeper appreciation for the term "muckraking."
3653093
Bill Bennett writes a pithy, easy-to-read history of the U.S.  While not hesitating to point out the numerous failures and foibles we faced as our nation grew, the author is also not reluctant to describe the many more triumphs.  His work is a straightforward history -- you know,the kind that school kids used to read before the teaching of history gave way to politically correct indoctrination.  His book is well-researched, well-cited and punctuated all through with interesting footnotes that flesh out the events described higher on the pages.  Through it all echos the message that the U.S. often was a beacon of hope in a complicated, often dismal world.  This is a very valuable book and most readers except the America haters will come away richer for having read it.
1881098
This is an overview of US history, from Columbus to Clinton, squeezed into just over 400 pages.  Much of the material in here was a review for me, though I did fill in some of the gaps, particularly in the Colonial period.  There is also a great deal of helpful information about the US policies towards and treatment of the Native Americans, which was another area that I didn't feel like I had a good understanding of prior to reading this book.

This book does assume that the reader has at least a basic understanding of US history, though it also assumes that the reader believes many of the myths we have created about our history.  Dispelling those myths seems to be one of the Author's goals, though that seems to be a pretty common theme in current books about history.

Written in an easy-to-read question-and-answer format, this is a great book for anyone who wants to fill in the gaps in their understanding of US history.
1939188
This is a much-needed corrective to mainstream American history.  It is an alternative view of our national story - which also includes the perspectives of America's primary historical minorities - Native Americans, Blacks, Women, and Hispanics.

This version of American history seeks to straighten out some of the more obvious distortions caused by the mythical exaggerations and omissions in the story told in mainstream American history of white men only heroics.  And on this point, I must say the book is wildly successful.  (A milder example of the standard rationalization for the shortcomings of our forefathers for instance is to be found in the recent, Wilkinson's Jefferson's pillow, where the Virginia quartet of Washington, Jefferson, Madison and Mason's moral inconsistencies are ironed out as "the ways" of their times, etc.)

In the vein of Charles Beard's An Economic Interpretation of the U.S. Constitution, and WEB Du Bois' Reconstruction in America, Zinn makes no apologies for viewing the economic interests of our founding fathers through a slightly socialistic or Marxist prism.  In many ways it is well that he has done so, because as is the case with Beard and Dubois, while Marxist economic analysis may not always be a perfect fit to American history, it is heads-and shoulders above what is offered as the standard historical fare -- which to any thinking person is mostly indigestible and often insulting pabulum  -- always carefully obscuring the economic connections which often are the only important subtexts.

Even though I am not as allergic to Marxist analysis as some of the other reviewers, I was a bit surprised to see both the Bacon's and Shay's rebellions being given such prides of place in Zinn's version of American history.  While one cannot disagree that these were indeed important events -- that have been underplayed in standard history books (as is also true of John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry) -- nevertheless, overemphasis raises one's antennae in the same way that the syrupy pseudo-patriotic versions of standard history do (for example the mythical exaggerations of the fight at the Alamo, the battle of Bunker Hill, the Boston Tea Party, etc.).

However, even in these instances, it is to Zinn's credit that he leaves a roadmap to his sources so that the reader can do his own further investigation.  This, I did on several occasions, and Zinn's analysis, in my view, has proven to be as close to a  "gold plated" standard of scholarship as one is likely to ever get.

The most important point of the book is that Zinn's explanations unerringly connect the dots and threads that run through American history.  There are no "blank periods" no unanswered questions as is the case in the standard versions of American history.  When you finish reading this manuscript you will have the feeling that you have enough to understand the complete picture. From the founding of the nation to the present, you will have an honest framework upon which to build.

Even though one may not always agree, and may even be suspect of the Marxist twist to economic analysis, one cannot deny that when compared with the more standard versions of American history, where economics is finessed or left out altogether, this one provides us with the "true skinny."

In standard American history books, the patchwork of discontinuities, omissions, embellishments, ideological and patriotic rationalizations, excuses for violence and brutality, puffed up white boy heroics, etc., makes it impossible to connect the dots and see the threads connecting what is going on today with what has happened in the past.

And While the People's History is not the final word, it sets us on a new path towards the whole truth.  I am grateful to Dr. Zinn for writing this book.  Five stars
4576792
Excellent history of the late 1800's and the early 1900's.  I was intrigued by how complex both Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft were.  The lives of the journalists who worked for McClure magazine also shed light on the reformist activities and movements of those years.  This is a book that is both interesting, attention-keeping, and thorough.
2406193
The fourth published volume of a much longer online history of American wars, this provides a fresh overview of the 1776-1783 period of battles and struggle to free the 13 American colonies from Britain. Color maps, diagrams, period paintings, and fold-out special features supplement a clear overall text. Designed initially for training cadets at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, this volume, plus one on the Civil War and two on World War II have been issued for general readers. One lengthy chapter discusses the story of fighting in the southern colonies--all too often forgotten today. Well annotated, this modern survey is readable and authoritative. Recommended.