History is quite simply the study of the past and past events, so it would stand to reason that American History is the study of the history of the United States. There are many authors and scholars who have studied American History extensively and have placed their findings in what is called an American History textbook so that students may learn more about this subject.
There are several American History Textbooks that detail the history of the United States of America, the following books are targeted primarily to middle schools and high schools:
The American Vision by Joyce Appleby is an America History textbook that gives students a thorough account of the history of America. It provides a synopsis of colonial America up to twenty-first century America and the textbook utilizes maps, charts, and graphs in order to engage the student. A series of comprehension questions are listed after each chapter to gauge the student’s under standing of the material. It is a colorful book with plenty of pictures designed to keep the reader’s attention and pique their interest in the topics.
The American Anthem by Edward Ayers is also a compilation American History textbook that offers students a rich, thought-provoking look into the history of the United States. The first chapter explores the origins of the United States pre-colonialism and the impact colonialism had on the native population, it details America’s struggle from tyrannical freedom and all the subsequent events that took place since the country became an independent super-power. This American History textbook breaks those events down in easy to read chapters and sub-chapters so that the student can pick up on key concepts. This textbook also has reading comprehension questions following each chapter.
America: Pathways to the Present by Andrew R.L. Cayton is an American History textbook that provides students a succinct, chronological snapshot of the past and how past events help shape America into the country it is today. It focuses on the cultural exchange of ideas that helped lay the foundation for America as the melting pot it is today. Utilizing maps, critical thinking questions, and pictures it provides a way for the teacher and student to have interactive learning.
The Americans by Gerald Danzer is an American History textbook that also gives the history of the United States from pre-colonial times to modern day. Not only does it provide a factual account of historical events it also adds other events in history not usually found in an American history textbook (i.e. the Harlem Renaissance). Maps, charts, and critical thinking questions are used to test a students comprehension of the text.
Lastly, The American Odyssey: the United States in the 20th century by Gary Nash is a very relevant American History textbook that is devoted to the history of the United States within the past century; events like the Reconstruction, WWI, WWII, and the Civil Rights are covered thoroughly. This American history textbook utilizes pictures, artwork, and reading comprehension questions to interest the student and gauge their understanding of the text.
Related Resources
Need a free American History Textbook online that you can read right now? Look at our extensive list of free history textbooks here.
The free American History textbook titled History of the United States by Charles A. Beard and Mary Ritter Beard can be found here: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/16960
The website Digital History, located here: http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/, has very useful content about many areas of U.S. History.
Also, Dr. James Ross-Nazzal of the Houston Community College kindly made available his “US History since 1877” textbook. It can be found online here: http://cnx.org/content/col10669/latest/
