A Short History of America: From Tea Party to Trump

by Simon Jenkins

The global powerhouse that is the United States of America is younger even than the British Museum, Guinness and the flushing toilet. In 2026 it will celebrate its 250th birthday. How did this vast land, long inhabited by diverse indigenous cultures, come to be dominated by English speakers? How has it grappled with the stark contradictions between its ideals of liberty and the grim reality of genocide and slavery?

This extraordinary collection of fifty distinct states has weathered immense – and recent – challenges, including a Civil War that was still raging as the first London Underground station opened. How did this melting pot of peoples and ideas not only endure but rise to dominate global politics, commerce, culture and warfare? What insights does this rich history offer about an increasingly divided nation – and the world that moves to its rhythm? Is this the twilight of American supremacy, signalling a shift toward a more introspective nation?

A Short History of America is rich with vivid characters – from arrogant conquistadors and idealistic revolutionaries to imperial presidents – and presents a narrative so astonishing it often feels like fake news. This is a gripping must-read for anyone seeking to make sense of our world today.

Genres: History

311 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 6, 2025

About the author

Sir Simon David Jenkins, FSA, FRSL is the author of the international bestsellers England’s Thousand Best Churches and England’s Thousand Best Houses, the former editor of The Times and Evening Standard and a columnist for the Guardian. He is chairman of the National Trust.

Reviews

[Ruben Fuchs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Refreshing read in times of shifting geopolitical relations. Every once in a while, it is worth investing time in learning about the history of the world’s major players. In the case of Jenkins, he has timed his new short history of the United States (‘From Tea Party to Trump’) rather well. The book teaches us several important lessons. First, the United States has come a very long (and often bloody) way before stepping onto the world stage roughly a century ago. In other words, nothing lasts forever. Second, U.S. administrations have often shown isolationist tendencies, also when it comes to Europe. So, what’s new? Third, since the end of the Cold War, the military-industrial complex has been in constant search of new conflicts. Sounds familiar? Take these three lessons into account, and consider where we find ourselves today. RF

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learnt a lot very good 5 stars

[Kieran Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fine short history for the layman.

It suffers from a lack of nuance, which is to be expected in a short history. Many of the points that Jenkins makes are valid up to a point, whilst others seem very questionable.

Unfortunately there are also a few errors - including that the infamous photo of US citizens fleeing Saigon was at the US Embassy (it was, I believe, a USAID/CIA building) and that Trump deported an American to an Ecuadorian prison, when it was a prison in El Salvador.

Being quite widely read on many of the subjects covered, I feel a lot was missed that would have enhanced a reader's understanding - for instance, that George W. Bush believed that Saddam Hussein must have had WMDs, as he couldn't rationalise Saddam's behaviour if not. These could have been short sentences, so not massively impacting the length of the book. I also feel his part on Theodore Roosevelt was wide of the mark.

I'd recommend for a newcomer with an interest in American history, as it's quite well-written and accessible, but anyone already familiar should avoid and focus on more in-depth, analytical books.

[Nicola · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read, written in an accessible style. It was ‘put-down-able’, hence the long duration of the read.

Does not assume too much prior knowledge. I learnt something about presidents that I have never studied but who are significant individuals, for example: Nixon. It does what it says it will: provide a ‘short history’.

I found the sections on American society most engaging. Less attention is paid to the ‘counter-culture’ of the sixties in the history books. I’d like to read more about this.

I wonder how in the future the final chapter might be revised… I’m finishing the book now, in the context of Trump’s war on Iran.

Could be improved with more explanation of the ‘college system’. I understand its dominance in elections but this seems crucial, given the current presidency.

Book bought with a gift voucher from a grateful student. I read it alongside others and determined to finish it during the Easter holidays.

[R · Rating 2 out of 5]

“If you’re going to be boring, at least be brief” could be Jenkin’s motto. At its best, it’s a dry, thinly researched summary of key events in American history; at its worst it’s misleading and skewed. Jenkins struggles to really understand the country and there’s a vein of English superciliousness throughout - Jenkins seems to think if America could just adopt BBC socialism and give up their big hats and silly guns, America could finally earn his respect.

[Paul Bramwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Concise but excellent survey of US history. This manages to capture enough detail to aid a broad understanding of US history without getting bogged down. Great introduction to the topic and makes me want to investigate certain events in more detail.

[Niamh · Rating 4 out of 5]

And so it was a very short history.

[Mythili]

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4wUY...

[Julia Tyrrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good account of the US history and culture. Very informative even though it was a gallop through history.

[Luna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice and (relatively) concise. Learned a lot of new things, and I think I read it at the perfect time (in a derogatory sense).

[Louis Mirzoeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Covers a lot of ground effectively