Product Description
American Sexual Histories is a collection of fourteen articles investigating human sexuality in America from the colonial period to the modern day. The essays reflect the many ways historians analyze sexuality and sexual trends, and explore such topics as contraception, interracial sexuality, "free love," hysteria, reproductive issues, and the sexual revolution. The volume shows how the evolution of sexuality in America is a product of ongoing interaction between moral values and shifting political and economic circumstances.

Arranged chronologically, the chapters each contain an introduction and one major article, plus supporting documents that illustrate the time, place, and issues covered by the main article. Editor Elizabeth Reis provides a general introduction, questions for study and discussion, and further reading lists that make this an ideal collection for students studying the history of sexuality in America. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good for the scholar
A nicely researched resource book to bolster knowledge and information about lesser known facts of American sexual history.Limited somewhat by the author's historical (v. sexological) understanding of what the behaviors mean, and probably best suited for an academic reader.Still a fine adjunct text for special study into the sex lives of our American forebears, and a worthwhile addition to the literature. ... Read more

Product Description
This volume traces the history of environmental conditions in the United States through the examination of critical issues such as pollution, conservation, and wilderness preservation. The Second Edition of this popular text includes several new essays and documents and pays particular attention to multiculturalism and gender throughout. In order to place American environmental issues in a larger context, the text emphasizes international relations and globalization. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A decent textbook with a few formatting weaknesses.
For a person interested in an overview of environmental history and some examples of typical sources used by the field, this is a reasonably good textbook. The pieces excerpted for the various sections are a good samplingof some of the best and well-known scholars in the field, and the primarysources would promote interesting discussion in a classroom setting.Smallintroductory sections help explain the significance of each.Theorganization is clear, and the 15-chapter format lends itself well toteaching this book under the 15-week semester system.An appendix provideshelpful definitions of common terms and topics, such as ecofeminism andhuman ecology.

However, the book has several flaws that discourage mefrom giving it an entirely positive endorsement.First, it lacks an index,a major problem for a book of this type.Second, both primary andsecondary sources appear in excerpted form (missing sections are indicatedby ellipses) and lack the footnotes from the originals.Although thesources are fully cited in an appendix, this is frustrating for the readerwho was looking for a more "intact" representation of thematerials in one place.

The editor of this book is Carolyn Merchant
Please make sure that you put the editor in for this books and add to your search engine.The editor is Carolyn Merchant.It doesn't come up when you do an author search for her.

Thanks! ... Read more

Product Description
2005 - McGraw-Hill - Paperback - American History: A Survey - Volume 2 : Since 1865 - Study Guide with Map Exercises - 11th Edition - By Alan Brinkley - Prepared by Harvey H. Jackson & Bradley R. Rice - New - ... Read more

Product Description
When it appeared in 1949, the first edition of Ray Allen Billington’s Westward Expansion set a new standard for scholarship in western American history, and the book’s reputation among historians, scholars, and students grew through four subsequent editions. This abridgment and revision of Billington and Martin Ridge’s fifth edition, with a new introduction and additional scholarship by Ridge, as well as an updated bibliography, focuses on the Trans-Mississippi frontier.

Although the text sets out the remarkable story of the American frontier, which became, almost from the beginning, an archetypal narrative of the new American nation's successful expansion, the authors do not forget the social, environmental, and human cost of national expansion. While most Americans take pride in the nation’s frontier heritage and its associated myths, they also share that history with others—especially with people of color—in whose collective memories the story of the American west is rendered both dark and painful. Westward Expansion encourages an understanding of American “westering” that is mindful of the racism and excessive nationalism that frequently marred the Western frontier experience. At the same time, the authors understand a sense of optimism, a profound faith in individuals’ own abilities, the willingness to innovate, and an abiding trust in democracy to be the transcendent values of the frontier experience, traits that continue to influence the character of America’s people long after the close of the western frontier. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Comprehensive Overview of the Development of the American West
When this book's first edition appeared in 1949 it was warmly received as an outstanding explication of western history using as its organizing principle Frederick Jackson Turner's "Frontier Thesis." Since that time it has gone through six editions, the last two with Martin Ridge as a co-author, an especially important development since Ray Allen Billington died in 1981. I first encountered "Westward Expansion" as an undergraduate in the mid 1970s--by then the book was in its fourth edition--and recognized it as a comprehensive overview of the subject.

It is still a massively significant book, mostly because of its detailed sweep of the history of the westward movement that it relates. It begins with an explanation of the "Frontier Thesis" first crafted by Frederick Jackson Turner in 1893, with its emphasis on American exceptionalism and subjugation of the North American continent. Reflective of an earlier perspective on the history of the West, the first editions of "Westward Expansion" viewed the movement of Euro-Americans westward as a positive development. This perspective is still present in the 6th edition, but there is much more questioning of the conquest of place and peoples, exploitation without concern, environmental wastefulness, political corruption, Euro-American misbehavior, and other inefficiencies. This edition concentrates on the trans-Mississippi West, rather than earlier periods in American history. It also treats the West as more a place than a process, something Billington routinely did. This is probably the result of the powerful influence of the "new western history" in the last quarter century and the work of Martin Ridge in revising Billington's work.

I recommend this edition of "Westward Expansion" as a detailed exploration of its subject. It is not perfect, but it is highly useful and remains an important reference work on my bookshelf. ... Read more

Product Description
Popular Culture in American History collects the mostwidely cited and important writings on 300 years of American popularculture. Each of the ten essays serves as a case study of a particularmoment, issue, or form of popular culture, from seventeenth-centurychapbooks to hip hop. Each essay is paired with relevant primarysources, among them illustrations, advertising, and excerpts fromworks ranging from dime novel fiction to the writings of Alexis deTocqueville and Ralph Waldo Emerson. With further reading lists,contextualizing editorial introductions, discussion questions, andchronologies of key events built into the book's pedagogicalframework, Cullen has created an indispensable teaching tool forinstructors in American History and American Studies and the firstbook of its kind on the history of pop culture in the United States. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Even the History Students Didn't Want this Book
I had to read this book for a university history course on popular culture.This was the required book for the course, but I found the recommended book to be much more interesting.Even the history majors in the class were less than enthusiastic with this book.It covers major popular culture issues through a series of essays, that are often quite dense and wordy.I give the book 3 stars, though, because I did learn many things I did not know before, and I enjoy that, but I would never, ever read this book again.I love to read, and I love to read history and most anything else, but the density of the essays were some of the most difficult and boring material.I would suggest the professor use the recommended book for the main text, and use this book as a recommended only option.The essays, however, were very well-written and covered items like chapbooks, The Dick Van Dyke Show, and rap music. ... Read more

Product Description
The truth and nothing but the truth--Richard Shenkman sheds light on America's most believed legends:

• The story of Columbus discovered that the world was round was invented by Washington Irving.

• The pilgrims never lived in log cabins.

• In Concord, Massachusetts, a third of all babies born in the twenty years before the Revolution were conceived out of wedlock.

• Washington may have never told a lie, but he loved to drink and dance, and he fell in love with his best friend's wife.

• Independence wasn't declared on July 4 (and the Liberty Bell was so little regarded that Philadelphia tried to sell it for scrap metal but nobody wanted it).

• After World War II, the U.S. Government concluded that Japan would have surrendered within months, even if we had not bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Customer Reviews (27)

An awesome history book!
This is one of the bett history books I've ever read.This book discuss the history that we were never taught in school.

Intersting premise falls flat
I received this as a gift many years ago.After recently reading several U.S. histories and several founding-father biographies I pulled this out for some lite reading.While an interesting read, my copy is going in the trash.

Most of my thoughts have been expressed by other reviewers.True to the title the book is mostly a fast-paced debunking of one "myth" after another, many of which are generally accepted as myth or are inconsequential to american history.The work is footnoted (loosely at best), but many references end up being someone else's opinion rather than a primary source.Since Mr. Shenkman is going out of his way to debunk American history it's hard not to take a lot of his debunking with a grain of salt.

Fun albeit somewhat hollow.
Legends, Lies, and Cherished Myths of American History is an interesting and informative read that attempts its best to debunk the mythologies that have overshadowed true historical accounts. This latter part is pretty surprising to me as Richard Shenkman makes a good point that the winners always write history based on their perspective, however biased it is. There were some surprising facts in the book that I didn't know. For example, the Declaration of Independence didn't happen on July 4th but rather on the second. For a while, I thought that the German economy were largely shackled by the Versailles Treaty, but it turned out that World War I cost the Germans three times as much as the reparations in the treaty. Even though the Germans were dismayed by its depression, Shenkman makes a point that they could have gotten out of it if the population tried to lower their standards of living. The author took the myth out of every president that took the office in United States history, and after reading each, my respect, however little it was, for the presidents have been greatly reduced. I wasn't surprised about Christopher Columbus, but one thing I can't ever understand why do we have to declare a holiday after him? For a long time, I actually thought that Amerigo Vespuccidiscovered America, but this country was only named after him (I hope I read that right) through fraudulent claims. Another thing I enjoyed was the history of education in America, and I enjoyed the disrobing of the mystique that Harvard carried with itself. Meanwhile, it may be interesting that a lot of truths are rediscovered in the book, but to me, it feels dismaying that historians have the power to falsify information without us having the resources or means to verify it. Ultimately, we'll just have to take their word unless somebody else can refute it although we won't have any idea of the correction. All in all, Legends, Lies, and Cherished Myths of American History is worth reading for anyone who is interested what America was truly like back then or rather how history can be shaped; however, I admit the information contained in the book is kind of hollow at times, and I am not sure why. Maybe it is that what it's past is past, and it doesn't really matter anymore.

Legends, lies, and myths in America
An eye opener about the myths in America. Subjects vary from sex, war, the frontier, education, art, and slavery. A great companion if your studying World History and American History. It gives you the reality and not the world in rose colored glasses. This book will give you insights about the American life and society.

A Look Beyond the Obvious
Legends, Lies and Cherished Myths of American History
Richard Shenkman

Jeopardy buff?Any trivia or history aficionado will enjoy this book tremendously and find it a great addition to her/his library.Shenkman touts little known facts on a wide range of topics in the relatively short, but certainly intense history of the "Land of the Free."Most importantly, for a fact-filled myth buster like this one, he carefully cites his sources.

Where questions remain about people, places, events and celebrations, Shenkman provides the reader with ample and balanced background information to forge onward with new and unique theories.His perspective is not critical or in your face, and he gives fresh insights on long and widely held incorrect concepts.The entire work is like a written version of Paul Harvey's The Rest of the Story.

I didn't wholly agree with all the positions set forth in the work, but deeply appreciated Shenkman's efforts to encourage thought and his subtle nudge to delve deeper into the subject matter.As an educator, I loved many of the fascinating tidbits mentioned throughout the book.I draw from the book regularly in my classes in hopes that I will help my students identify with characters or events in our country's illustrious history.

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Product Description
Herrin, Illinois, has seen many dramaticevents unfold in the nearly two hundred years since it was a bell-shaped prairie on thefrontier. Now, Herrin native John Griswold,a writer and teacher at the University ofIllinois, provides the first comprehensivehistory of this most American city, a placethat in its time became not just a melting potbut also a cauldron. Discover why the coalwas so good in the 'Quality Circle' andwhat happened to the boom that followed its discovery. Explore the roots of thevicious Herrin Massacre of 1922 and learn why the entire nation has focused itsgaze on this small midwestern city so many times.

Incorporating the most recent scholarship, interviews and classic histories andnarratives, this brief and entertaining history is illustrated with more thanseventy-five archival photos that help tell this important American story. ... Read more

Product Description
American Portraits is a two-volume collection of biographical profiles designed to supplement American History survey texts. Biography personalizes history in a unique and profound way for students, lending a sense of immediacy to the study of the past. All of the essays selected for this anthology profile the life of a given individual and explore how that person influenced and was influenced by broader historical forces. Introductions begin each part, placing the biographies in topical and chronological perspective. Supporting documents, headnotes, and discussion questions help students place the biographies in context. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (19)

The Irony of American History
I bought this book for my daughter to use at college.It was sent directly to her, so I can only give second-hand review.The book looks fine.There were a lot of notes written in the margins, but that was not a problem.The book arrived to its destination when promised, so everything worked out quite well.I would say this was a good purchase!!

Informative literature
Reinhold Niebuhr was one the better reads I have stumble across in philosophy.Cohesive, well articulated information all compacted in a short yet powerful book.

The Irony of American History
The review I read called Neibuhr Obama's favorite philosopher.I have never heard of another president's favorite philosopher.Although I am familar with Neibuhr, I do not know this book and am looking forward to reading it and perhaps using sections in my first year composition classes at Towson University.

Loses Its Power With Age
Everyone, it seems, is a Niebuhr fan -- most importantly President Obama, who specifically cited Niebuhr as one of his favorite writers.At least in the case of The Irony of American History, that's a shame, because more than a half a century after its appearance, it seems full of platitudes.

I suppose that for its time, Irony was important, because it stressed the idea that for all of America's vast power, it could not solve all of the world's problems, that attempting to uplift the developing world would bring us into contact with cultures that we did not (and still do not) comprehend, and that any triumph over Communism would be a long struggle.Niebuhr himself had superb judgment -- he opposed the Vietnam War early, from this sort of realist perspective.So in that sense, it is useful.

But from the perspective of the early 21st century, this seems a little trite.And even in its own time, it was hardly unique.Dean Acheson spent most of his time as Secretary of State saying the same sorts of things, and so did George Kennan.Now, in Irony, Niebuhr criticizes Kennan, saying (correctly, in my view) that Kennan's brand of realism so totally de-emphasized ANY moral considerations that it took out of American diplomacy what was best in America.But to say this, and little more, to me makes Niebuhr's position less rigorous than Kennan's.At least Kennan would have the guts to say that yes, focusing exclusively on the national interest might undermine humanitarian goals, but yes, that was necessary.Niebuhr would not.But then he should have tried to come up with a way of synthesizing his realism with his idealism -- really coming up with a unique brand of CHRISTIAN realism, which was, after all, what he was trying to do.He didn't.

Thus, we hear that we need to be cautious, that Communism is evil, that liberalism can be naive, that we need to be engaged in the world but not expect too much.All true.But certainly someone of Niebuhr's intellectual power could do better than that; in fact, he DID do better than that.Just not in this book.

I admit that one of Irony's tropes really annoyed me: his confident assertions about the nature of "liberalism", "liberal ideology", and "liberal societies."Yes, they can be naive; yes, there is a tendency within SOME strands of liberalism to assume that fundamental conflicts of interests and values can be eliminated.But not all -- by far not all.Much of liberalism grew out of a very acute sense of power and of the tendency of power to grow and become monstrous.That's why these brands of liberalism resisted governmental power, insisted on the separation of powers, focused on the strength of civil society, etc.At times, Niebuhr's description of liberalism becomes a caricature.And he was better than that.(For more on this brand of liberalism, one might start with the work of Judith Shklar, e.g. Liberalism without Illusions: Essays on Liberal Theory and the Political Vision of Judith N. Shklar.).

I suppose that the book is still saved by its final section, which really departs from the foreign policy section, and talks about human nature and the concept of irony.For Niebuhr, irony occurs when the very strength of a person or a community contains within it that person's or community's greatest weakness.A liberal state's humanitarianism and idealism creates an inability to see viewpoint's different from its own, and a tendency to dismiss objections as based on improper motives.Irony is thus the essential human condition; it represents our inability to perfect ourselves because of the nature of the problem and of reality.Niebuhr suggests that this is the core meaning of Original Sin, which other Christians might object to, but to me, as a Jew, I find very compelling and quite ecumenical (Judaism contains this idea in its notion of the human soul containing both the Good and the Evil Inclination, with both being necessary for human development, growth, and greatness, as well as failure and destruction.).This last section really gives Niebuhr the theologian, the identity for which he justly became famous.

Maybe the best way to look at this book is as a primary source, as an example of mid-20th-century intellectuals searching for a way to justify America and American values against the twin dangers of Communism and McCarthyism (to his credit, Niebuhr goes after rabid anti-Communists in this book, which in 1952, when it was written, was no easy task).And as mentioned before, I would also see the last part as a particularly moving and elegant theological essay.But, as Andrew Bacevich claims in his introduction, "the most important book on US foreign policy ever written"?Not a chance.

Ironic Failure
The new edition of Reinhold Niebuhr's Irony of American History by the University of Chicago Press, with an Introduction by Andrew J. Bacevich, is very much an ironic failure because its message is outdated, and therefore it can't be compared to America's situation today. But more importantly, history has shown that this book is a failure because it helped formulate those egos in power during the Cold War. I mean those serving on those committees of un-American activities, and sadly to say, with this new edition, it seems to be doing the same for those in the Obama administration.
First, the book's central argument undermines the evil of communism of that period, and by contrast it reaffirms the belief in the capitalistic system during the 1950s that serves the basis for American democracy today. Please take note that this book was first published in 1952 when the word communism had only one other synonym, like our "axis of evil" today. In fact, in the Introduction, when Bacevich attempts to make the book current, by making a comparison with Niebuhr's view of communism with that of Goerge W. Bush's view of "Islam" of today, Bacevich's attempt faces an ironic twist of fate. Bacevich's attempt is an "ironic" failure because Niebuhr's views expressed in this book endorsed the "established" view of his time, and if we follow Bacevich's logic through, then Niebuhr would be a voice for the establishment today. For evidence of this, the reader need only to browse over the front and back covers of the book to read President Barack Obama endorsement of the author of this new edition as "One of my favorite philosophers. I take away from his works the compelling idea that there's serious evil in the world." Unfortunately for Obama that "evil" is mostly defined in terms of the American conflict with the Islamic led Taliban.
Anyone considering buying this product must be warned that when the book was first released in 1952 International Communism was the enemy of America. Hence, Niebuhr represented the "established" view. Likewise, when the reader turns its pages, Niebuhr is at constant war with communism. In fact, the idea returns so much in this book, I came to the conclusion that it would have been more pertinent to release this book twenty-five years before (prior to or just after the fall of the Berlin wall), so that the message would have been more meaningful.
In addition, when the book was first release during the era of"McCarthyism" there were numerous individuals appearing before the House Committee of Un-American Activities (HCUA) for the supposed affiliation with communists activities. One could only imagine that those operating those hearings, such as Senator McCarthy himself, would have carried Niebuhr's book around in his briefcase because it justified exactly what he was doing to "Un-Americans". Read: "Communism is a vivid object lesson in the monstrous consequences of moral complacency about the relation of dubious means to supposedly good ends"(5), or "The crowning irony of the Marxist theory of ideology is that is foolishly and self-righteously confined the source of this taint to economic interest and to a particular class" (22).One can only imagine Senator McCarthy smiling as he reads these passages from Niebuhr's passionate discourse against communism.It is a wonder that Niebuhr did not make any effort to revise his book after "history" has shown us that Ho-Ch Minn represented the real "virtue" that led to America's failure in destroying communism in Vietnam.
Does this mean that Niebuhr's book is all that bad?Not at all. There are some good things that I took from this book. The third chapter, "Happiness, Prosperity and Virtue" helped me understand how the American Dream can not be separated from the materialistic elements of the Enlightenment thinkers. In addition, Niebuhr imaginatively discusses why American democracy has become the strange bedfellow of capitalism, and he traces this back to a time when in American history the American "collective" decided to defined its destiny in terms of its control over nature, or natural resources. Niebuhr suggests that the founders of our current American culture made a choice from at least two major influences: Calvinism and the ideology that was handed down to them by Enlightenment thinkers; an ideology which framed the American Constitution and its Bill of Rights. What was rejected was the outright religious "virtue" for the secularized version derived from the Enlightenment thinkers (One only need to examine the revisions undertaken in formulating the American Constitution as proof of this). Hence, the Promethean "spirit" of progress, capitalism, imperialism, and democracy, is central to the DNA makeup of American history that provides the genetic material for the children of today's "America Dream" family.

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Product Description
Lift Every Voice traces the roots of black music in Africa and slavery and its evolution in the United States from the end of slavery to the present day. The music's creators, consumers, and distributors are all part of the story. Musical genres such as spirituals, ragtime, the blues, jazz, gospel, rhythm and blues, rock, soul, and hip-hop-as well as black contributions to classical, country, and other American music forms-depict the continuities and innovations that mark both the music and the history of African Americans. A rich selection of documents helps to define the place of music within African American communities and the nation as a whole. ... Read more

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Incorporating the enormous amount of very sophisticated revisionist scholarship that has appeared over the past 25 years, this book provides a consistent, overall reinterpretation of southern history — pre-1607 to the end of the Civil War — offering a less fact-filled, more narrative and more interpretative approach that expands the concept of southern history both chronologically and geographically. Reflects the author's first-hand familiarity with the newest scholarship — as the editor of the Journal of Southern History and co-editor of a major study of southern historiography, Interpreting Southern History. Explains why things happened the way they did rather than just telling what happened. Tells more about the entire South — not just the eastern seaboard. Features better, more extensive coverage of Indians, blacks, and women than earlier histories of the South. Offers insights gained by what is now called a “gendered analysis.” Introduces and explores new research on topics such as slavery and women's history.For anyone interested in the history of the South or Southern civilization. ... Read more

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Presenting a diverse collection of documents, Root of Bitterness reaches from the colonial era through the nineteenth century, focusing on six dominant themes: women's work, the power of gender, the physical body, women's collective efforts, diversity and conflict among women, and women's relation to state authority. This edition contains about twenty selections from the original volume and almost sixty new ones. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

from across the country!!!
another book I needed for Rutgers U. class.was posted as used and has a stamp indicating it was from UCLA bookstore.again, excellent condition.pages not written in or folded/torn.very good service.
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This clear, thorough, and reliable survey of American painting and sculpture from colonial times to the present day covers all the major artists and their works, outlines the social and cultural backgrounds of each period, and includes 409 illustrations integrated with the text. Although some determining factors in American art are considered, Matthew Baigell views the rich and diverse achievements of American art as the result of the efforts and talents of a pluralistic society rather than as fitting into a particular mold. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Art in America
Well written although Baigell assumes in Chapter 1 that you know about some areas that he doesn't define. Google was useful in clarifying these. ... Read more

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This volume traces the evolution of the American military, its institutions, strategic doctrines, and technology. The selections provide a social and institutional focus of the "new" military history, and follow the metamorphosis of the militia, the professionalization of the officers' corps, and the course of civilian control of the military.

Customer Reviews (3)

HST 1
The wrong item was shipped to me, but the seller quickly refunded the cost of the book for me. The seller allowed me to keep the textbook sent due to loss of shipping and handling paid.

Great combination of Primary and Secondary Sources
Great book to see how the primary sources about specific topics can be reflected on by historians to create interesting essays.

The book is organized into chapters about specific periods in American military history.The first portion of each chapter includes a series of primary source documents describing the time period or some particular issue (the creation of a distinct American Air Force, for example).The second portion of the chapter includes essays written by today's historians analyzing the issue or event described in the documents.

To help those of us just learning about the issues described in each chapter, the chapters begin with an introduction to provide a more global look at the issues to be presented.The document and essay sections each also have a brief introduction to describe the passages.

Good Collection of Essays
The collection of documents contained in the book provides a good look at major problems and issues spanning the entire three-hundred (say from the founding of Jamestown) or so years of American military history. Of particular interest to me was General Patton's commentary on the U.S. Army's position on tanks during the period between World War I and World War II.

There are also some articles on doctrine and on the establishment of a professional standing army. The documents do a good job of tracing the evolution of the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force. In the end, the book provides a good collection of opinions on important subjects in the military's past and present. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

More than you expect!
A great wealth of knowledge is packed into this volume.It includes extensive info about Spain as well, including the Reconquista and Age of Exploration.This is the only place I have been able to find detailed mapsof both Bolivar and San Martin's campaigns in English.I would have likedto see a bit more about British & American imperialism in the 19thcentury, but overall it is a great book.I would puchase a newer,up-to-date version in a heartbeat. ... Read more

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First published in 1992, A History of African Americans in North Carolina traces the history of black North Carolinians from colonial times to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. This new, revised edition brings the story up to 2001. Included is a detailed examination of the considerable electoral gains made by African American candidates for public office from the late 1960s through the 1990s, a period characterized by complex legal issues involving busing and political redistricting. An entirely new chapter surveys the expanding political influence of African Americans in North Carolina, the rise of effective black politicians, and the impact of important judicial decisions in the advancement of minorities. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A concise history
Both as a Black American and a new resident (from the North) of this most intriguing southern state, I was curious about African American history in North Carolina.This is a well written, concise yet thorough account of the Black Experience in North Carolina.As such, this book is more of an "entry-level" account of the historical aspects of Black life in the Tar Heel state.In this regard, it provides a litany of references for those who wish to accomplish a more in depth study.Having said that, I wish the authors would have utilized footnotes to provide direct keys to the reference material.

The authors, in my opinion used a very candid style of "reporting" the major milestones in North Carolina as it relates to African Americans.The book provides a perspective of early slave trade, a good overview of "life as a slave" and a clear description of the peculiarities of the institution as an economic enabler for North Carolina's economy in the early U.S.

The book describes the early tie-in between slavery and the revolutionary war. The authors illustrated how the British Army attempted to enlist the support of slaves by offering them manumission if the English achieved victory.Conversely, North Carolina patriots also made "offers" to the slaves for their loyalty during the revolution.However, these promised concessions fell short of freedom.This tactic by early North Carolinian slaveholders were the precursors to other hollow promises that whites made to Blacks in regard to freedom and social equality. In fact, North Carolinians were masters of the "bait and switch technique" when it came to creatively delaying the full promise of liberty to Blacks throughout Tar Heel history.

From the antebellum period through the civil war, this account provides the usual historical perspective that one would expect.In this portion, the reader will gain an understanding of the militancy of slaves in North Carolina.There were many runaway slaves who created havoc through uprisings, thefts and attacks on whites as many took to the wilderness to survive and, to some extent, terrorize plantation owners.Whites experienced a lot of fear during this period because of the large number of slaves in the state who were potentially a threat to the dominance of slave owners.Ultimately, whites initiated brutal punishment in an attempt to deter slaves from running away and participating in revolts. Obviously, slave owners were quite successful in quelling this behavior.However, North Carolina slaves never adopted a docile acceptance of slavery.They were quite unhappy with forced bondage, and the quest for freedom remained at the forefront of their minds.Also, this section of the book describes how North Carolina supplied slaves to other states once the U.S. abolished the importation of slaves internationally.

The description of the post-Civil War period through the Mid-20th Century is where this book really shines. Reconstruction and its abandonment by the federal government turned the dreams of freedom into the nightmare of Jim Crow.Traditionally southern states like Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi became the icons of the racist Jim Crow period in the U.S.North Carolina, however, was very clever at preventing social equality for blacks without attracting a lot of national attention.This was true, according to the book, because the North Carolina white political leaders were very adept at constructing a legal framework that contained the necessary nuances that would block every attempt for African Americans to be equal citizens.This was accomplished through legislation at both the state and local levels of government.For instance, the state of North Carolina mandated that there would be separate but equal educational facilities funded by the state.Having done this, ordinances were passed that directed property taxes from white property owners to fund white schools and property taxes from black property owners to fund black schools.Obviously, because of the small number of black property owners, schools for African American children were nearly non-existent.This facilitated the objective of preventing blacks from becoming educated. Whites feared that education would motivate blacks to strive for social equality.In addition, educated blacks would want to leave the menial jobs that needed to be done in support of the agricultural economy in North Carolina.The book interestingly notes that, during this period, blacks attended school at a rate higher then whites when educational opportunities were available.Moreover, once blacks achieved a level of learning the natural thirst for higher education was apparent in the numbers of blacks who wanted to attend college.So the concerns of whites were not inaccurate.

Also, North Carolinians strategically utilized Ku Klux Klan activity to intimidate and terrorize blacks into desired behavior.It is interesting to note that North Carolina is seldom cited as a "Klan State" like other southern states. This is largely due to the relatively quiet use of clever intimidation techniques without drawing a lot of national attention.

Futile attempts to end Jim Crow in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s caused frustrated blacks to begin a mass exodus to the Northern U.S. urban cities.This left a huge void in the required labor force in the south.Once those who left gained a taste of this perceived freedom, they further recruited family and friends to join them.

If there is a shortcoming in this account, it is found in the discussion regarding the latter portion of the civil rights period.The authors did not draw a lot of distinction between North Carolina and the national civil rights movement.It would also have been interesting to have had a prologue that would have summarized the black experience in North Carolina with some description of the status of Black life in North Carolina in the post civil rights environment. ... Read more

Product Description
From the discovery of America to the war in the Persian Gulf, Tad Tuleja chronologically offers 100 sayings and events, using each as a lens through which to view America at that time.
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Customer Reviews (6)

I re-read this once in a while ...it's that good!
This book presents american history in a concise, simple yet informative nutshell type manner.It's easy to read yet interesting.I like it so much I've re-read it many times - and I still find it interesting.

I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!!
I have used this book for many years now in my United States History classes.The entries really get to the heart of each historical issue or event.They are brief yet thorough, succinct little nuggets of knowledge.Tuleja has a wonderful writing style that is both accesible and challenging for secondary students. I heartily recommend this book as a personal read or as supplementary classroom material.

Useful for anyone!
This is a great book that will make history easily accessible and enjoyable.

The book breaks 100 key events into easy to read passages summarizing key points in a most readable fashion.So many of us, unfortunately, learned hisotry from notes copied off of the board in a high school classroom.This makes the things that we should remember (Little Big Horn, Stamp Act etc) more entertaining.

One reason why this book is great for individuals who already like US history is the collection of fun facts at the end of each segment.

Worth owning as both a reference book and a fun read!

Better than you might think
Amazing, non-orthodox book on US history. This enjoyable, fun and easy reading is full of interesting facts. It shrinks US history down to 100 nutshells which are like reading history between the lines, probably the history most americans don't know. This is an excellent complement to any formal history book. The fresh approach offers excellent culture and, why not?, entertainment. You should not miss it.

A unique way to learn American history! Bravo!
American History in 100 nutshells is a fascinating read for increasing knowledge of American history with new insight and fun! This book is truly an enjoyable read. The format is very unusal and exciting. Mr. Tulejapresents the reader with 100 thoughts and phrases and explains thecircumstances of each passage. Each "nutshell" is presented in achronological order. The read is fast, entertaining, at times quirky. Whenyou get your hands on this novel approach to history, you'll discoverthehistory behind such sayings as: the shot heard round the world, our countryright or wrong, to the victor belongs the spoils, John Brown's body lies a'mouldering in the grave, and much more. I wish my father could have seenthis book! He would have loved it! ... Read more

Product Description
Designed to encourage critical thinking about history, the Major Problems series introduces students to both primary sources and analytical essays on important topics in US history.This collection, designed to be the primary anthology for the introductory survey course, covers the entire chronological span of Constitutional history.Tracing the historical development of American constitutional thought, the Second Edition of this anthology presents the documents critical to constitutional development, including actual legal texts as well as the reactions of prominent legal minds. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Awesome!
Book got here right on time.It was in perfect condition.Thank you very much. Should update the picture though.The ISBN number was correct, but the picture is not.

Amazon is a great experience
I have bought several items from Amazon.Each time, I have had wonderful service.I usually get supersaver shipping and it arrives fast.About the book,at first I was excited because of the weight and size of the book.It is small and doesn't weigh much.Then I opened it.The type is small which means a lot of words on the pages which make it hard to read.There is too much information.It is hard to keep it all straight.I have asked other students in my class if they understood the first reading, only to get the same answer, it is hard to understand.Each reading does get easier, but it has too much information on each page and it is hard to keep it all straight. I only bought this book because it is the required reading for my class.Good Luck to those who need this book.

Required Reading
Main sources were typical. What makes this book stand out was the essays accompanying each chapter at the end. It gives you a perspective on all the primary source documents and it a pleasant break from them as well.

Invaluable Resource
Whether you are an attorney or simply a student of Constitutional Law, this book is perhaps the most valuable resource you could ever add to your library. Professor Hall has assembled a barrage of land mark cases and their effects on America.

The book is broken into 12 chapters, each covering different subject matter from Civil Liberties to Women's Rights. Each chapter supplies the reader with documents on the subject matter, followed by essays from noted legal scholars.

I will use the final chapter to attempt to give the reader a feel for this magnificent work. Chapter 12, ORIGINAL INTENT AND CONSTITUTIONAL INTERPRETATION, begins with a document by former Attorney General Edwin Meese on the wisdom of relying on the Framers' Original Intentions. Here, Meese echos the sentiments of the early Massachusetts democrats who wrote into the state constitution, "the best defense of our liberties is a government of laws, not men."

Next we find a document from former Supreme Court Justice William Brennan, jr on the Failure of the Doctrine of Original Intent. Brennan here describes originalism as nothing more than "arrogance cloaked as humility." Brennan presents a view that the judiciary must approach interpretation by accepting the ambiguity inherent in the effort to apply them to modern circumstances.

The final document of this chapter is Justice Thurgood Marshall's paper on the Constitution's Bicentenial: Commemorating the Wrong Document?Marshall further expresses Brennan's view that the Constitution is fluid and evolving with the times. Marshall predicates his arguements by saying the founders could never have envisioned the changes in our social order. Marshall's paper seeks not to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the accomplishment that is the US Constitution, but rather to understand on its 200th anniversary, a "sensitive understanding of its defects."

Once the reader has muddled through these convoluted and rather distorted views, the real fun begins. The reader finds two radically differing essays on the subject, one by Raoul Berger which supports much of the vew expressed by Meese, the other by Leonard Levy who examines the consequences of the failure to follow Original Intent.

Each chapter is presented in a similar fashion, however some of the chapters also include landmark cases on the subject at hand.For instance, in Chapter 6, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, Hall includes such cases as Brown v. Board of Education and Plessy v. Ferguson. Non-unanimous cases are then given the courts opinion as well as the dissenting opinion.

Each chapter concludes with a "Further Reading" section that is sure to stimulate the reader for future study. This book is a must have for your library.

Monty Rainey
www.juntosociety.com ... Read more