Making America: A History of the United States

by Carol Berkin, Christopher L. Miller, Robert W. Cherny

Making America. Second Edition, tells the story of the United States in a way that makes sense. The authors' clear and coherent writing style creates a rich portrait of human experience that you will enjoy reading. Each chapter opens with features that set the stage for understanding what follows. A map, a time line, and focus questions work together to preview the story that unfolds in the following pages. Within each chapter, chronologies running glossaries, and critical thinking questions reinforce the information you will want to retain. And "Individual Choices" and "Making History" features highlight the human element of American history with compelling stories of real people.

Genres: Textbooks

1040 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Matt Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most well-written, interesting, and balanced American History textbooks I’ve read or used in my classes. I especially appreciated the notes from the author of each chapter providing a framework for the chapter and occasionally a personal note about the significance of the events discussed. Each chapter also featured a person whose experiences informed the themes of that era in our history. Though politics maintain a prominent place in this text (as in most U.S. History textbooks), it is more thoroughly balanced with economic, cultural, and social history, as well as foreign policy. It could have used a bit more discussion of art and literature in my opinion, but I was able to supply that information. Overall, I appreciated the constant tone of restrained reverence for the courageous people who have led this country, as well as its honest grappling with the country’s ongoing insidious moral failures. I truly enjoyed this 855-page summary of our path to the 21st century.

[Emory Roseman]

Only took me 9 months