A Student's Guide To U.S. History

by Wilfred M. McClay

The ISI Guides to the Major Disciplines are reader-friendly introductions to the most important fields of knowledge in the liberal arts. Written by leading scholars for both students and the general public, they will be appreciated by anyone desiring a reliable and informative tour of important subject matter. Each title offers an historical overview of a particular discipline, explains the central ideas of each subject, and evaluates the works of thinkers whose ideas have shaped our world. They will aid students seeking to make better decisions about their course of study as well as general readers who wish to supplement their education. All who treasure the world of ideas and liberal learning will be motivated by these original and stimulating presentations.

Genres: History, Education, American History, Nonfiction

102 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2000

About the author

Wilfred M. McClay is the G. T. and Libby Blankenship Chair in the History of Liberty at the University of Oklahoma, and the Director of the Center for the History of Liberty. His book The Masterless: Self and Society in Modern America was awarded the Merle Curti Award of the Organization of American Historians for the best book in American intellectual history. Among his other books are The Student’s Guide to U.S. History, Religion Returns to the Public Square: Faith and Policy in America, Figures in the Carpet: Finding the Human Person in the American Past, Why Place Matters: Geography, Identity, and Public Life in Modern America, and Land of Hope: An Invitation to the Great American Story.

Prof. McClay served on the National Council on the Humanities, the advisory board for the National Endowment for the Humanities, for eleven years. He is a member of the U.S. Commission on the Semi-quincentennial, which has been charged with planning the celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday in 2026. He has been the recipient of fellowships from the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the National Academy of Education. He is a graduate of St. John’s College (Annapolis) and received his PhD in History from the Johns Hopkins University.

Reviews

[Ian Clary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a helpful little book that sets the stage for doing historical research on the United States. Covered a great range of topics, gives good suggested resources for further reading, and provides a "canon" of texts that are must-reads. I also really appreciated his "caveats" at the end of the book on pitfalls in historical research. This short sections really applies to history more generally conceived and in a sense was worth the price of the book. I'll graduate on to McClay's other works now.

[Cameron Barham · Rating 4 out of 5]

“…you should think of American history as a drama of incomparable sweep and importance, where all the great questions of human existence and human history- the proper means and ends of liberty, individuality, order, democracy, material prosperity, and technology, among others - have converged, been put into play and brought to a high pitch, and are being worked out and fought over and decided and undecided and revised, even as you read this. It is a drama of enormous consequence, with both praiseworthy and execrable aspects, whose outcome even now is far from certain.” , p. 21

[Nathan Albright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three times in my grade school experiences I had year-long courses devoted to U.S. History, and in many ways they were done according to the way discussed in this book, with talks of names and dates and trying to memorize laws and government policies.  Many people, as a result of experiences similar to my own, view American history as boring or provincial when one compares it with the histories of Europe or East and South Asia or the Middle East, to give but a few examples.  The author gives a compelling reason why American history is worth studying, though [1], and in doing so makes this little book a compelling one that admits its short size and that triumphs because it opens a window to a field that is too often neglected or underappreciated.  All too often people study American History only because they have to, but this book encourages its readers to study American History because they want to, and that makes a big difference.  When we want to study something, we will seek out sources far more interesting and worthwhile than the textbooks that are foisted upon us.

The book is a short one at about 100 pages but it manages to effectively ground American history on a solid foundation and then open a window into some genuinely interested aspects of American history that are well worth reading more about for the reader.  The author begins with a discussion of what this book is and isn't, properly framing expectations for the reader.  After that he discusses history as laboratory and as memory, pointing to the limitations of history as a science but the importance of history as a repository of memory and as a genre of literature.  The author then spends some time rethinking American history as well as addressing the multitude of myths that exist about American history largely because the mythic nature of American history (whether for good or ill) is nearly universal even if the meaning and content of that mythic nature is difficult to agree about.  After a discussion of the relationship between micro and macro historical concerns, the author opens up some brief but fascinating windows on the relationships of America to Europe, capitalism, the city, equality, the founding, the frontier, immigration, liberty, nationalism and federalism, nature, pluralism, redemption, religion, revolution, self-making, and the South.  This fascinating and provocative look at different matters ends with some caveats and a lengthy and worthwhile glimpse at a canon of American history and literature worth reading and appreciating.

As someone who greatly loves American history as a field to study and who regularly looks at both detailed and broadly conceived accounts of various aspects of that history, I found this book to be a very worthwhile one for helping readers in self-education.  Whether one wishes to read great American novels (like the Great Gatsby) as a way of finding more about America, or whether one is interested in regional history or the deeply ambivalent to hostile view of Americans towards concentration in the city or America's notoriously ambivalent attitudes towards immigration and liberty/equality, this book has something worthwhile and colorful to say.  Not only does the author have some striking insights to make about American history and its relevance for contemporary social and political issues, but the author manages to say it in a colorful and memorable way, such as the author's memorable quip about how Americans are like a man in love with two women named liberty and equality and often not recognizing that his heart is divided or that liberty and equality are rivals, or the author's humorous way of pointing out that the South is becoming Americanized as it is simultaneously Southernizing the rest of the United States, which is also something significant.  This book is short but packs some heat, which is just what I like in my books.

[1] See, for example:

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2010...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2011...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2018...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...

[Nav · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grabbed this because it was quite short and I was curious what events would be important enough to include in a guide that's almost 100 pages. However this guide covers the themes and wider world contexts (the frontier, immigration, capitalism, the nation's self-image) that are important to keep in mind when studying US history rather than condensing that history into so short a work. If you're a current student of US history and you need an essay topic one of this book's "windows" into US history could prove to be an excellent inspiration. And even in its brevity the book conveys the author's enthusiasm for the study of America's past and the importance of history in general - although it does read rather like a philosophy text book.

To address possible concerns: Despite springing from the efforts of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI) this book isn't beyond the comprehension of high school students. ISI has an interest in promoting conservative scholarship, but current politics are not under discussion in this book (except perhaps for the author's derision for using "political correctness" as a classification because as an "ad hominem" argument it discourages clarifying discussion). It is possible that the readings recommended by this book are biased in a political direction (as I have not read all of them). Though I do doubt it as the author up-talks practical historical study that involves critical reading that examines the writer's agenda/biases and is critical of having too narrow a study focus. (He does acknowledge that such focuses have their place, but makes it clear a true student of history would not confine him/herself only to an economic history or a minority history but flesh out their understanding of that time period or place.) Additionally, even if you aren't an enrolled student somewhere this book could be useful to self-study.

[Christine Sunderland · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Guide to American History for All Ages

An excellent approach to the study of American History as well as a good summary of key facets and factors. Being a perpetual student, I appreciate this guide. Am currently reading Dr. McClay’s recently released Land of Hope, a detailed history and very readable. Thank you Dr. McClay for both contributions to the reading stacks of this appreciative and admiring (and elderly) reader.

[Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's not that you shouldn't read it. Just be aware of what it is - a guide to interpreting and evaluating other books on history. The opening essays got a little pendantic. The list and brief discussions listed topically bring up lots of questions and few answers. Which I think is the point - think about these things as you study America's past and make decisions about the future. Includes lists of books to read. Many lists.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful overview of the philosophical nature of history, an organization of the major themes that permeate any study of US history, and some warnings for students about the study of history itself—what it can and cannot do. It is not a history book at all, but a guide—with numerous "for further inquiry" sections to help students to know what to look for and how to think about history.

[Thomas Mackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Respectable but promotes a element of heritage when dealing with American history. It is dated now considering his review of the nature of history of religion in America. The 6 Caveats in the back are wise guides for history students.

[Zijian Du · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very thin book, started with how history study should be put into right historical social and ideological perspectives. Followed by the most important topics in American history. Serve as a intro book for what to look for if deeper examination of American history is desired.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greta overview with lots of suggested reading.

[Adrien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I've already done much research into US history, this book does a good job of summarizing what one should look for in US history.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice book in size and scope and layout. The first essay or two are the book's strength ("What is history?, "American Myths & Narratives"). The second section, "A Gallery of Windows" gazing onto the American experience is not as effective, mostly due to the exceedingly limited space alloted to each window. However, the list of suggested further reading and suggested "American Canon" are useful. I bought the entire series from ISI, mostly to satisfy my fetish of owning complete series, but also because the books seem to serve as effective launch pads for further study.

[Jennifer Lenz cavanagh]

As an overview of early American History, it does a pretty good job of being factual without any obvious agenda. It is not guilty of casting the European settlers as pioneers while villifying the Native Americans or overlooking the African slaves who were a large part of the early American experience. Due to its brevity, it cannot be exhaustive of the events and issues that occurred; however, it presents enough information to serve as a springboard for further study.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good introduction to the study of US History, but not the academic mainline interpretation. From the Intercollegiate Studies Institute. This is a good series on the major subjects produced by an organization seeking to provide students with the ammunition to resist the ideological tint of the modern academy.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started off slow, but became more interesting. Overall, it's too philosophical for my taste. It was assigned reading for my US History class and while I did learn some things, I felt like I was reading a philosophical/sociology text. Definitely not what I expected. However, for someone majoring in History, I can see its worth.

[Robert Justice · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short little book I read for my U.S. History class. Broken down into different topics, ranging from "Freedom" to "Capitalism", McClay gives his reflective thoughts on how each of these developments came to be a part of the American mindset over time. Very good, quick reading for someone who is interested in American History.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A surprisingly insightful little book. I expected a simple overview of U.S.History, but instead found new wisdom in approaching history in general, and a framework for understanding American history in particular.

[Miguel De la torre]

good topics to write different essays