The Brief American Pageant: A History of the Republic, Vol 1: To 1877

by David M. Kennedy, Lizabeth Cohen, Mel Piehl

THE BRIEF AMERICAN PAGEANT presents a concise and vivid chronological narrative, focusing on the great public debates that have dominated American history. Colorful anecdotes, first-person quotations, and the text's trademark wit keep readers engaged. Focus questions, chapter outlines and summaries, marginal glossaries, and links to additional online study aids ensure that readers understand and retain the material.

416 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

David Michael Kennedy is an American Pulitzer Prize-winning historian specializing in American history. He is the Donald J. McLachlan Professor of History Emeritus at Stanford University[1] and the Director of the Bill Lane Center for the American West. Professor Kennedy's scholarship is notable for its integration of economic analysis and cultural analysis with social history and political history.

Kennedy is responsible for the recent editions of the popular history textbook The American Pageant. He is also the current editor of the Oxford History of United States series. This position was held previously by C. Vann Woodward. Earlier in his career, Kennedy won the Bancroft Prize for his Birth Control in America: The Career of Margaret Sanger (1970) and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for World War I, Over Here: The First World War and American Society (1980). He won the 2000 Pulitzer Prize for History for Freedom from Fear: The American People in Depression and War, 1929-1945 (1999).

Reviews

[Grace Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of great moments in history along with great pictures and maps!

[Tess Blake · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good as a history book, kinda boring as the authors are quite long winded and felt the need to use some weird illustrations.

[Rebecca Pierce · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was alright, as far as history books go. I have read others that were much more engaging and informative. I was rather put off by the consistently negative portrayals of our Presidents. I understand they were human and flawed, but how are rumors of an extramarital affair pertinent to our Country's history? Perhaps it's just me, but I was a little distressed by this. I felt that the entire book was somewhat prejudice. However, I have read worse. So, not great, but not terrible either.