Major Problems In American History, Volume 1: To 1877

Major Problems in American History

by Elizabeth Cobbs, Jon Gjerde

Designed to encourage critical thinking about history, the Major Problems in American History series introduces students to both primary sources and analytical essays on important topics in U.S. history. This collection serves as the primary anthology for the introductory survey course, covering the subject's entire chronological span. Comprehensive topical coverage includes politics, economics, labor, gender, culture, and social trends. The Second Edition features integrated coverage of women in Volume I, as well as a streamlined chronology in Volume II. Key pedagogical elements of the Major Problems format have been retained: 14 to 15 chapters per volume, chapter introductions, headnotes, and suggested readings.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American, School

480 pages, Paperback

First published December 17, 2001

Reviews

[kim]

Very informational, it was interesting to read things that were written so long ago and I feel like it actually helped me understand the perspective of those people at that time.

Also btw I didn't read the whole thing, just particular sections

[Cade]

Definitely a step down from the 3rd edition of the book. The primary sources were fine, but the secondary essays were significantly less challenging and, in general, shorter. Simply not as useful as some of the more robust essays present in the 3rd edition. Still a good reader overall, though. Very in-depth take on early American history, lots of good information about the varying historical perspectives on the topic, and so on.