ABSTRACT

Aspects of American History examines major themes, personalities and issues across American history, using topic focused essays. Each chapter focuses on key events and time periods within a broad framework looking at liberty and equality, the role of government and national identity. The volume engages with its central themes through a broad ranging examination of aspects of the American past, including discussions of political history, foreign policy, presidential leadership and the construction of national memory. In each essay, Simon Henderson:

  • introduces fresh angles to traditional topics
  • consolidates recent research in themed essays
  • analyzes views of different historians
  • offers an interpretive rather than narrative approach
  • gives concise treatment to complex issues.

Including an introduction which places key themes in context, this book enables readers to make comparisons and trace major thematic developments across American history.

chapter |5 pages

INTRODUCTION

chapter 3|10 pages

THE CONSTITUTION: Makings and meanings

chapter 7|10 pages

SOUTHERN AND CONFEDERATE NATIONALISM

chapter 8|10 pages

LINCOLN AND LIBERTY

chapter 9|10 pages

Reconstruction: the unfulfilled promise

chapter 13|10 pages

AMERICAN IDENTITY AND THE AMERICAN WEST

chapter 15|9 pages

GENDER, RACE AND THE VOTE, 1865–1920

chapter 17|10 pages

KENNEDY, JOHNSON AND CIVIL RIGHTS

chapter 18|10 pages

MARTIN, MALCOLM AND BLACK AMERICA