Inside Guide: Early American History

Some studies of early America highlight events such as the first Thanksgiving and the establishment of different colonies. But true historians realize that American history is tightly bound to the history of enslavement in the Americas. This carefully researched volume presents the difficult topic of American slavery sensitively yet comprehensively. Readers will learn about the European slave trade and how and why it expanded to the American colonies. They'll also learn how slavery repeatedly threatened to tear the nation apart for decades before the Civil War. Historical images and thoughtful fact boxes and sidebars enhance the text's critical ideas.

Some historians assert the American Revolution began long before the first shots of the war were fired. This essential volume about the conflict that led to the establishment of the United States starts with the causes of the war, delving into the events and policies that preceded the clash at Lexington and Concord. Readers will then learn about many other battles and how the Continental army under George Washington secured a final victory at Yorktown. The appealing book design includes historical images along with interesting sidebars and fact boxes that will motivate budding historians to learn about the nation's history in depth.

People may have been living in North America 30,000 years ago! Archaeologists are constantly looking for information about how these early people arrived and how they survived. What is known is that the arrival of Europeans forever changed the lives of the Indigenous tribes living in America, often with tragic results. Still, many cultures endured with their languages, customs, and spiritual beliefs intact. This essential book, replete with fascinating historical images, fact boxes, and sidebars, spotlights the information about Native peoples that students of U.S. history need to know.

The culture of the United States was developing even before the nation was established during the American Revolution. Life in the British colonies of North America provided much of the foundation for the country. This significant volume, an engaging look back in time, invites readers to learn about the colonial period, including European settlement, schools and education, and the colonies' relationships with Native Americans. Interesting fact boxes and sidebars, a timeline and maps, and striking historical images help readers imagine life in the colonies from their establishment to the revolution.

The United States was once a small group of states that had been colonies of Great Britain. It grew into a world power rapidly and a major driver of that rise was immigration and migration. Readers of this thought-provoking book will discover just how important the movement of people to and across the United States has been throughout the nation's history. They'll learn how diversity has been vital to the country's growth and success and consider the controversies that have long surrounded the issues of immigration and migration, connecting the past to the present.

Americans' large-scale movement west during the 1800s stemmed from several events. The discovery of gold in California, the Mormon migration west, the transcontinental railroad, and the search for farmland propelled many people in the East across the continent. This valuable volume highlights the major causes and effects of the push westward, highlighting important topics such as Native American displacement and the construction of the Erie Canal. Sidebars, fact boxes, maps, and historical images support readers as they develop an understanding of the many events that expanded the United States from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.