American Colonial History: Clashing Cultures and Faiths

by Thomas S. Kidd

Thomas Kidd, a widely respected scholar of colonial history, deftly offers both depth and breadth in this accessible, introductory text on the American Colonial era. Interweaving primary documents and new scholarship with a vivid narrative reconstructing the lives of European colonists, Africans, and Native Americans and their encounters in colonial North America, Kidd offers fresh perspectives on these events and the period as a whole. This compelling volume is organized around themes of religion and conflict, and distinguished by its incorporation of an expanded geographic frame.

Genres: History, American History, Religion, Christian History, Nonfiction

344 pages, Paperback

First published April 26, 2016

About the author

Thomas S. Kidd teaches history at Baylor University, and is Senior Fellow at Baylor's Institute for Studies of Religion. Dr. Kidd has appeared on the Glenn Beck tv program, the Hugh Hewitt and Dennis Prager radio shows, and written columns for USA Today and the Washington Post. He is a columnist for Patheos.com. His latest book is Patrick Henry: First Among Patriots. Other books include God of Liberty: A Religious History of the American Revolution. His next book projects are a biography of George Whitefield, and a history of Baptists in America.

Reviews

[Cherye Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well...

A different twist to American history. At first glance I thought it was going to be a tad dry. Nope. The book turned out to be quite interesting and very informative.
A good read for those interested in American history and early religion.

[Sean McGowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kidd gives a concise but rich narrative of colonial history, focusing, as the subtitle suggests, on religious and cultural tensions. The attention paid to the interaction between various colonial and Native American groups was a real strength that gave the book a different feel than other overviews of the colonial period. Kidd also included the Spanish and French colonial efforts in areas that would become part of the United States.

[Kirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a succinct and far from exhaustive approach to colonial America, but it is a great place to start. Kidd focuses heavily on the European peoples (particularly the Spanish, French, and English) coming to the Americas, and thus divides his chapters mainly into their varying spheres of influence with a loose chronological pattern. Kidd's diverse exploration includes Native Americans and Africans and therefore makes his work highly beneficial for the many who have received a more Anglo-centric education (like me!). If there is one small criticism to make, the economic motivations of the various people groups are sometimes overlooked within the focus on culture and faith, but overall a well written book.

[Brad Hart · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to be honest, I found this book to be exceptionally boring. I like Thomas Kidd's books but this one was different. It read like a chronology, not a history. Disappointing to say the least.