Exploring American Histories opens an entirely new window into the many histories of the nation’s past. It integrates an unprecedented number of primary sources—both written and visual—in a unique building blocks approach that enables students to hone their analysis skills while they actively learn the fundamental concepts of American history. By weaving sources into the story and culminating in multidocument projects around a single topic at the end of each chapter, the book brings history to life while helping students understand how sources form the basis of historical narratives and how to think critically about them.
“In years past, instructors have often assigned a main textbook and a document reader. With Hewitt and Lawson, you get both in one book. Students get content and methodology in an integrated text.”
- Chad Gregory, Tri-County Technical College
“The new secondary source analysis offers an opportunity to get a manageable sense of historiography and demonstrates how even well-informed students of the past can have valid differences of interpretation.”
- Larry Grubbs, Georgia State University
"The documents included in the textbook are exceptional. They reflect a diversity of sources and perspectives and are introduced pedagogically in a variety of ways."
― T.J. Tomlin, University of Northern Colorado
“The analytical guidelines and questions provided by Hewitt and Lawson empower students to support and develop interpretations that in turn promote active participation in class discussions and stronger papers. The secondary sources in the third edition demonstrate to students that historians participate in an historical discourse with other historians by supporting and developing interpretations through an analysis of primary sources, and provide models on how to support and develop interpretative arguments based on primary source analysis.”
- Ramon Veloso, Palomar College
"This concise, highly readable survey offers the unusual advantage of drawing the student's attention to documents that reflect the broad diversity of American experience and have been chosen with great care to convey the sense that history cannot be understood from a single perspective."
― David Noon, University of Alaska Southeast
"This textbook is just challenging enough for our community college students and easily adaptable to fully engage our more gifted students in critical thought. The clear balance of materials enables me to fully incorporate the full range of pedagogical approaches (V.A.R.K. methodology). I highly recommend this book."
―Gary Donato, Massachusetts Bay Community College
"The best new approach I have seen in a U.S. history survey textbook in some time."
―Donald R. Shaffer, American Public University System
"This book does what we have been trying to do in the classroom for years and does it in a way that will make you want to actually use the textbook instead of just asking students to read it."
―Uzoamaka Anyiwo, Curry College
“Students tell me this book has helped make history real for them.”
―Lacey Holley-McCann, Columbia State University
“LaunchPad’s integration of book and online assignments is strong. Its LearningCurve application allows students to immediately test their retention of the material and link back to the specific text if they are unsure, and it provides a means for instructors to monitor the reading and retention of students throughout the course.”
―Gabrielle Everett, Jefferson College
“A visual, well written text that is easy to read and entertaining. It has depth and substance but doesn't overwhelm with too much detail, yet it offers a diversity of perspectives. The primary sources are varied and used well. This book is very good for teaching primary source analysis.”
―Linda Upham-Bornstein, Plymouth State University
"A well written survey of American History that enriches the learning experience with the targeted use of primary sources."
―Carole Lester, University of Texas at Dallas
"The writing style is very approachable, and should have broad appeal across college campuses."
―Gregory Culver, Austin Peay State University
