We the People: A Brief American History, Vol. 2: Since 1865 (with American Journey Online) - Softcover

Carroll, Peter N.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0534593577 ISBN 13: 9780534593575

Publisher: Cengage Learning, 2002

Synopsis

This if Volume II (chapters 15-30) of WE THE PEOPLE. Crafted from the ground up to be a "brief" U.S. History text (rather than a condensed version of a larger text), WE THE PEOPLE tells the story of America through five recurring, interwoven themes: (1) the role of interacting cultures in the development of the American nation; (2) the social/cultural environment's interaction with political forces; (3) the evolution of a national identity; (4) changing cultural values; and (5) individuals' attempts to impose order on physical place and chronological time. Frequent quotations from individuals at all levels of society make this text well-rounded in its presentation of social and cultural history. In addition, each chapter opens with a story that features a longer quotation that illuminates the topics, events, and themes explicated in that chapter. WE THE PEOPLE is available in the following split options: WE THE PEOPLE, Complete, First Edition (Chapters 1-30), ISBN: 0534593550; WE THE PEOPLE, Volume I to 1877 (Chapters 1-15), ISBN: 0534593569; WE THE PEOPLE, Volume II, Since 1865 (Chapters 15-30), ISBN: 0534593577.

About this title

About the Author:

Peter N. Carroll was born in Queens, New York, and received his B.A. from Queens College and his history Ph.D. from Northwestern University. He has taught the U.S. history survey course at the University of Illinois, the University of Minnesota, and San Francisco State University; consulted on literally dozens of textbooks; and worked with survey course teachers for the National Faculty in the 1990s. He also works with his local high school's AP U.S. history survey course. He has also taught U.S. cultural and intellectual history at the University of Minnesota, Stanford University, the University of San Francisco, and the University of California at Berkeley. Carroll's publications include IT SEEMED LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED: AMERICA IN THE 1970S, rev. ed. (Rutgers University, 1990), KEEPING TIME: MEMORY, NOSTALGIA, AND THE ART OF HISTORY (University of Georgia Press, 1990), and AMERICANS IN THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR: THE ODYSSEY OF THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN BRIGADE (Stanford University Press, 1994). Carroll and his partner, author Jeannette Ferrary, live in Belmont, California.

Review:

"I really like this text. It is readable and covers very interesting material. I would rate it superior to Tindall. I would also say that it is an important competitor to the better long editions like Norton and Henretta. ... The introduction of chapters that cover broad material with single stories (the creation story or Isabella's introduction to an 'instrument of empire') is interesting, and nicely tied to the more general introduction to the chapter. ... What continues to be positive in this chapter is the inclusion of individual voices. ... the first six chapters are well written, contain interesting and relevant information, and together present a coherent and cogent narrative. As someone who struggles every semester with how to present a 'survey' of American history, I appreciate the complexity and, at the same time, the simplicity of this narrative. Yes, I would consider adopting this text."

"Peter Carroll's WE THE PEOPLE is a very good concise text judging from the initial six chapters. Carroll's format is consistent, his examples appropriate, and his ability as a writer excellent. ... Wadsworth's goal of a "lively brief narrative" by a single author has been met and perhaps exceeded. This will be a popular survey text. … Carroll's text is a way to encourage more students to be successful. ... Students who read this text will be thoroughly entertained with the explicit descriptions and comparisons of cultures and genders. ... The chapter introductions are superior. That is one of the reasons why I believe the text can appeal to a broader audience. ... In the ... chapters read, I see no major weaknesses, only strengths. These strengths come from his treatment of the themes in a precise way. In quality the chapters are superior to those of 'usual' survey texts who try to please all and really please no one. The author has presented interesting material without sacrificing important themes. ... Few survey texts are as well written. Thank you for asking me to review this excellent addition to American survey textbooks.... I would love to adopt this text."

"I find this text far superior to more traditional texts like Garraty or Bailey in its coverage of social issues. It has ... less detail than the Norton text I currently use, but that may be an asset as it seems to read better and not to overwhelm the reader with too much detail. ...."

"These chapters seems very well organized overall and are quite comprehensive. The writing is attractive and should hold the students' attention. ... I certainly enjoy and admire the social and cultural history contained here and praise the author for presenting it so well."

"I was struck ... at the skillful way in which Professor Carroll was able to integrate social/cultural and political history and to reveal the dialectical relationship between them. Here he sustains my admiration for his work. ...Professor Carroll's prose style flows well. The vocabulary he employs does not intimidate the reader, nor does it condescend. Carroll tells good stories when there are stories to be told, and he develops his analytical points with admirable clarity."

About this edition

• Publisher: Cengage Learning
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0534593577
• ISBN 13: 9780534593575
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 786