A Concise History of the United States - Softcover

Though America is a new country by the standards of earlier civilizations, its history makes up in breadth, dynamism and flamboyance what it lacks in actual duration; only a few centuries ago, the most powerful nation in the world was nothing more than a network of trading posts. In this short survey, the author concentrates on those qualities in the American people that made their country's rapid transition not only possible but inevitable. Andrew Sinclair combines an awareness of real issues with concern for documented fact: instead of presenting a catalogue of dates, he traces the origins of the American ideal, the rural-urban conflict, the rise of the two main political parties, and analyzes the effect of Puritanism on the national character. He also explains current American attitudes in the age of Bill Clinton. Updated and revised, the book guides the reader on a literary and visual journey through America's history from Columbus to Clinton.