Birth of America, The - Softcover

Polk, William

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0060750936 ISBN 13: 9780060750930

Publisher: Perennial, 2007

Synopsis

From the fearful crossing of the stormy Atlantic to the growth of the early settlements, from the French and Indian War and the unrest of the 1760s to the inevitable break with England—here is an insightful and fascinating account of the transformation of an unknown land into an extraordinary nation.

In this provocative history of colonial America, William R. Polk explores the key events and individuals that defined this critical epoch by offering vivid descriptions of the societies the Europeans came from and what they believed they were going to, while introducing the native peoples encountered in the New World and the black Africans who were brought across the Atlantic. As John Adams would point out to Thomas Jefferson, the long years that witnessed the formation of our national character and the growth of our spirit of independence were indeed the real revolution. That is the compelling story at the root of The Birth of America.

About this title

About the Author

William R. Polk taught Middle Eastern history and politics and Arabic at Harvard until 1961, when he became a member of the Policy Planning Council of the U.S. Department of State. In 1965, he became Professor of History at the University of Chicago, where he established the Center for Middle Eastern Studies. His many books include The Birth of America and Understanding Iraq.

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Although Polk's book contains little new information about early American history, he synthesizes a dazzling social history of early America. Polk reveals an evolving land at the mercies of various foreign governments, each with startlingly different visions of how to use the New World. The Spanish, for example, were less concerned with grabbing land than the British; Spanish explorers conquered small parts of America in order to establish sugar plantations worked by the enslaved native inhabitants. Polk paints the diversity of life among precolonial Native Americans as well as the African roots of black slaves; these cultural specifics give his history a human touch. His gripping account of the dangers of the transatlantic crossing—darkness between decks, filth, vermin—reminds us forcefully of the fears and risks that accompanied the hope of starting over in a new world. He likens the colonies to a daughter growing up and growing apart from her mother during the later 17th century as the colonies developed their own governments, industries and militias. Polk, an independent historian (The Elusive Peace), is a masterful storyteller who takes us into a strange world and helps us to understand it. 11 b&w illus., 6 maps. (Apr. 7)
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Edition details

• Publisher: Perennial
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0060750936
• ISBN 13: 9780060750930
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 416