America: A Concise History, Volume 1: To 1877

by James A. Henretta, Lynn Dumenil, David Brody

A Concise History has become the best-selling brief book for the U.S. History survey because of the uncommon value it offers instructors and students alike. The authors’ own abridgement preserves the analytical power of the parent text, America’s History , while offering all the flexibility of a brief book. The latest scholarship, hallmark global perspective, and handy format combine with the best full-color art and map program of any brief text to create a book that students read and enjoy.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History, Textbooks

560 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

James A. Henretta is an American historian. He is a Professor Emeritus of American History at the University of Maryland, College Park. Henretta is a Fulbright Scholar, and has received a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
He graduated from Swarthmore College and Harvard University.

Reviews

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

From world's colliding (Europe, Africa, and America) to America's establishment to post war reconstruction, this is one every American should read.

[Jill Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting, informative, and quite readable history of early American culture and politics. Contained within these pages are Supreme Court decisions, Presidential elections, Women, Native American, and African-American rights (and lack thereof), the Industrial Revolution, The Enlightenment, and The Great Awakening. Age-old conflicts of owner vs. laborer, church vs. state, centralization vs. state's rights are reviewed, leaving the reader with a better understanding of today's issues.
I especially liked the sections titled American Voices, which gave contemporary accounts of historical events as written by the people who witnessed them.
I was also impressed by the thorough dissection of battlefield strategies used during the Civil War, as well as the very complex (and ultimately failed) period of Reconstruction.
This book is definitely a keeper, and I'm not even a history student.

[Isaac Timm · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very clean text. Chapters are long but packed with meaningful information that is well formatted for study. I really like how it ties history given earlier in the text, carrying it into latter chapters. It shows that history is interlocking movements and events, not just dates that can be cleanly laid out on a timeline. The primary sources given in the workbook were a great addition.

[Louis Picone · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent text book. It is well structured & includes insightful (and rarely used) primary sources. I also like the recommendations at the end of each chapter to learn more on the topic

[My work is never done · Rating 5 out of 5]

ce, informative, and un-biased scholarly work. No Justifications for racist Colonialism, no romantisizing of Native Americans, no propaganda of any kind in this. Just clear, concise, and true. Plus you'll learn things you never knew before or even heard of. Everyone including non-college students should read this book. For instance, you'll read that most people were against the American Patriot Movement because they were seen as extremists and opportunists who wanted to replace the Monarchy with their own ultra-nationalist dictatorships, Native Americans converted to Christianity to steal white men's spiritual secrets, most went back to their own religions, some became Christian Shamans, and others were a mix of Pagan and Christian to combine the power of Jesus with that of the elements and spirits. Many Native Americans were as racist and opportunistic as the whites who came to Americs the only difference between the two was the advancement of each others weapons technology. Some even owned slaves, inter married with them, so there are separate tribes of half black Native Americans, Witchcraft was openly practiced by Christians In America and used the reading of Omens and Soothsaying and astrology to read God's commands. It was only bad when non-christians practiced it apparently so there was an entire civil division of Christianity of Witches and Non-witches theologically fighting each other. There's just so much this amazing book brings to the table this is my Christmas gift to you all. Includes documented opinions and eye witness accounts from people who lived there at the time. Trust me, you'll love it. Also, it traces various Revolutionary ideas from the Right and Left wings including what eventually became Communism, religious revivals, reforms, and Revolutions, everything.

[JP · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fine history text, but somewhat sporadic. I used this book in a US History to 1877 class, and from what I remember, it really jumped around. There's a reason textbooks are usually almost 1000 pages, and this book - the only one for the class - was not enough (it's less than half as long) to single-handedly provide a base in the historical chronology.

The issues Henretta did touch on, however, he describes incredibly well. An even-handed and often unheard history of the American Revolution was very informative, and though he doesn't spend too long talking about it, the complicated social and religious dynamics between Native Americans, Europeans, and Black slaves are elaborated on quite well. The Second Great Awakening in particular is well-addressed. It seems like this text was written for professors who want to present an alternative and more inclusive narrative on American history without having to resort to the extreme ideological leftism in A People's History.

Lol to the reviewer complaining about Mormonism's portrayal.

I would recommend, but to teachers thinking about using this text - I suggest using a couple other books to really flesh out some of the specific aspects of US History.

Entertainment: 0
Education: 1 Star
Thesis: 1 Star
Readability: 1/2 Star
Inspiration: 1/2 Star

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for an American History class that I'm repeating at Brigham Young University. This is also the second history textbook I've read this year, which helps give some perspective, I suppose. I enjoyed the book being compact and smaller to carry. The given history in the text is more generalized, in my opinion, but I give credit for the authors making the effort to write as much as they could.
The only complaint I have about the book was how the Mormons were portrayed in the book. It was rather cynical, from my point-of-view, and the authors weren't fair...they gave a strange picture towards Mormons as being shady religious group, when it really isn't. I have read about Mormon history from another history textbook...which held more of a skeptical viewpoint, which didn't bother me. I'm open to skepticism, but not cynicism. The attitude matters, and if not done carefully, it can come off as rude. Furthermore, Henretta never took the care to make sure to list the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) as being part of the Second Great Awakening. Henretta has failed in that aspect.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for my U.S. history course and I was impressed by how easy it was to read. Some of my other textbooks are written in a way that can be nearly impossible to decipher, but this one was written in a simple yet informative way. Now, I must go study for finals; wish me luck.

[christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

a good book for a really fun and interesting class. I love the civil war and enjoyed learning more about our fine country.

[Sara M Villafane]

FANTASTIC