What do you think?
Rate this book
American History, Volume 1: 1492-1877
American History volume 1 surveys the broad sweep of American history from the first Native American societies to the end of the Reconstruction period, following the Civil War. Drawing on a deep range of research and years of classroom teaching experience, Thomas S. Kidd offers students an engaging overview of the first half of American history. The volume features illuminating stories of people from well-known presidents and generals, to lesser-known men and women who struggled under slavery and other forms of oppression to make their place in American life. The role of Christianity in America is central in this book. Americans’ faith sometimes inspired awakenings and the search for an equitable society, but at other times it justified violence and inequality. Students will come away from American History v olume 1 better prepared to grapple with the challenges presented by the history of America’s founding, the problem of slavery, and our nation’s political tradition.
352 pages, Paperback
Published April 1, 2019
About the author
Thomas S. Kidd
40 books121 followersThomas 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
October 7, 2020
This is an excellent overview of American history. While it contains the typical fare (the important men, the battles, the dates), I especially appreciated Kidd's telling the stories of those often ignored: Native Americans, enslaved (and then freed) peoples, women, and religious minorities. I needed a refresher on the broad strokes of American History and this was delightful to read. While the book has no footnotes, each chapter does have a "selected bibliography" with a few resources to go deeper. Thomas Kidd is an evangelical historian that I'm coming to enjoy reading, but maybe more importantly, whom I'm starting to trust, as I test his historical judgments against my own. There's nothing like "American History" to put those judgments to the test.
Want to Read
October 2, 2022Recommended by Jasmine Holmes
May 6, 2026
Little too much emphasis on Christianity but otherwise a great introductory read. That Andrew Jackson was a real mother fucker, huh
January 4, 2026
I would probably actually rate it 3.5 stars if Goodreads let me. Not a great book, not terrible. I can't say I really learned anything new here, but I am a bit of a history fan. I will say that I think Kidd falls short of some of what he promises in his book. He says that he aimed to include more stories from real people, not just the "important" people of the times, and he also claims to have approached it from a Christian perspective. As it regards adding snippets from the "regular" people, he does do some of that, and it is a nice addition, but they are short references and don't really seem to add anything. As far as bringing a Christian perspective, I am actually pretty disappointed. He certainly brings up religion as it relates to what certain groups and people believed, but it is not a dominant part of the book, and nothing more than observations. Especially considering he is a professor at a Baptist seminary, there is remarkably little in this book to give any indication he has any strong beliefs. Some people were universalists - does Kidd believe this is errant theology? We don't know. Joseph Smith's beliefs? We don't know if Kidd agrees or disagrees. That is fine from the perspective of this being a history book. It should be objective. But that being the case, why bother making a point about your being a Christian to begin the book? Is Kidd a Christian? After reading this book I have no idea. Not questioning his faith, I'm just saying he doesn't really indicate what his beliefs are in the book. And a final note on objectivity, Kidd does not write this book from a woke perspective, but he is definitely sympathetic to many liberal ideas about American history. Pretty much in every case, the white man is bad. No exploration of how the American Indians treated each other, black slave owners, who provided the slaves to the traders in Africa, etc., etc. Just white man bad. He doesn't go overboard with it, so this is still readable, but he should have provided the same objectivity on these subjects as he did with religion.
September 10, 2022
This book apparently is intended for high school classes, but if you wish you had paid more attention yourself back in the day when you were in high school history class, Kidd’s work is essential reading. He traces American history from the earliest human settlements on the continent up to the reconstruction era, ending in 1877. Kidd touches on all the major events of American history, albeit briefly, and keeps the story moving ahead in brisk and compelling fashion.
What makes this first volume unique (and ostensibly the second volume as well, which I hope to tackle soon), is that Kidd gives “a lot of attention to religion,” because he believes religion has “generally been a force for good in American history.” (p.2) So you will read about the influence and theology of the Puritans (p.31); the great revival called the Great Awakening in the 1740s (p.61); the way Thomas Jefferson invited a sermon to be given to Congress just two days after writing his famous “wall of separation” letter (p.126); the fact the first telegraph message by Samuel Morse was a Bible verse (p.141); the “phenomenal Christian growth” in the nation under the Second Great Awakening (p.149); the way Abraham Lincoln “knew the Bible intimately and used it to brilliant effect in his speeches” (p.290); and the observations of American life by Alexis de Tocqueville, who wrote: “Freedom sees religion as the companion of its struggles and triumphs, the cradle of its early years, and the divine source of its rights.“ (p.159).
Kidd does not hide the shameful aspects of American history, and devotes the last 100 pages or so to slavery and the plight of African Americans to gain their God-give right to freedom. In many respects, it is a sad and discouraging story, but, for any American, under the providence of God, it is our story, and this book tells it well.
What makes this first volume unique (and ostensibly the second volume as well, which I hope to tackle soon), is that Kidd gives “a lot of attention to religion,” because he believes religion has “generally been a force for good in American history.” (p.2) So you will read about the influence and theology of the Puritans (p.31); the great revival called the Great Awakening in the 1740s (p.61); the way Thomas Jefferson invited a sermon to be given to Congress just two days after writing his famous “wall of separation” letter (p.126); the fact the first telegraph message by Samuel Morse was a Bible verse (p.141); the “phenomenal Christian growth” in the nation under the Second Great Awakening (p.149); the way Abraham Lincoln “knew the Bible intimately and used it to brilliant effect in his speeches” (p.290); and the observations of American life by Alexis de Tocqueville, who wrote: “Freedom sees religion as the companion of its struggles and triumphs, the cradle of its early years, and the divine source of its rights.“ (p.159).
Kidd does not hide the shameful aspects of American history, and devotes the last 100 pages or so to slavery and the plight of African Americans to gain their God-give right to freedom. In many respects, it is a sad and discouraging story, but, for any American, under the providence of God, it is our story, and this book tells it well.
May 31, 2023
Superb overview of US history. Well researched, very readable, and imbued with a measured appreciation for the American ideals, even as they juxtapose with American reality. Careful attention is paid to the treatment and mistreatment of Indigenous, ethnic, and religious communities. Kidd also takes time to cover the uniquely American religious landscape as it shapes and is shaped by the emerging American nation. I'm looking forward to the second volume.
April 17, 2024
Excellent. The level of detail I wanted and very even-handed.
June 26, 2020
As someone who likes history, particularly my own home turf, Kidd was a very enjoyable read. It one sense it felt like textbook--informational not commentary. At the same time, it was very readable and comprehensive. The best feature in my mind was Kidd's clearly stated orientation (writing as a Christian from a baptistic background) while still offering critical analysis. Some 'Christian' takes on our US history are so devoid of self-criticism that they can possibly be honest. Others, by Christians as well, are so ashamed of some things done by Christians, they foment another kind of distortion. Kidd does a good job of staying on the road.
July 6, 2019
Are you like me and have become disgusted with most books today that attempt to teach American history? Do you suppose that most young Americans who are wrapping up their educational years really have no idea of the incredible history of our country? There are some excellent titles floating around on specific incidents in American history, but those that could be used as a textbook are often either lacking or skewed beyond recognition. That’s why I am happy to see this two-volume set come out by Thomas S. Kidd. He has written several historical biographies including those of Christians who have impacted our history. To my mind, he was the perfect person to step up and produce this set.
The balance with which he writes is refreshing for history. He’s never afraid of Christianity, nor does he ever obscure it in our history. On the other hand, he doesn’t make it Christian where it’s not, though he often does describe how Christians have viewed particular historical incidences. For my money, that approach is ideal.
You can always quibble the amount of coverage one event gets compared to another in a book of this type, but he did as well as anyone could do. The visual quality of the work is excellent as well. The pictures are well chosen, attractive, and yet not so prevalent as to give us a skimpy text. Perhaps my only criticism is that this title might have been better presented in a hardback. Rarely do I mention in a review the choice between hardback or paperback, but for some reason, this looks like it should have been a hardback. Still, the covers for each volume in the set are gorgeous.
This set would easily be my choice to recommend for an American history textbook today. I should add, too, that homeschooling parents would do themselves a favor to check out this title for their high school students. Because of where we are today, I believe that if many high school and college students used this set it would be a boon to our society. It’s what we’ve needed for a long time.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
The balance with which he writes is refreshing for history. He’s never afraid of Christianity, nor does he ever obscure it in our history. On the other hand, he doesn’t make it Christian where it’s not, though he often does describe how Christians have viewed particular historical incidences. For my money, that approach is ideal.
You can always quibble the amount of coverage one event gets compared to another in a book of this type, but he did as well as anyone could do. The visual quality of the work is excellent as well. The pictures are well chosen, attractive, and yet not so prevalent as to give us a skimpy text. Perhaps my only criticism is that this title might have been better presented in a hardback. Rarely do I mention in a review the choice between hardback or paperback, but for some reason, this looks like it should have been a hardback. Still, the covers for each volume in the set are gorgeous.
This set would easily be my choice to recommend for an American history textbook today. I should add, too, that homeschooling parents would do themselves a favor to check out this title for their high school students. Because of where we are today, I believe that if many high school and college students used this set it would be a boon to our society. It’s what we’ve needed for a long time.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
May 29, 2021
Really good book! I've tried to read Thomas Kidd before but found his writing boring. Not the case with this. This was written as a textbook (don't let that dissuade you) but it reads in a great narrative flow.
In the introduction he says he wants to highlight some names that otherwise get lost in the major works of history and he does that good. He talks about how he writes as a Christian but there is no indication of "Provedential History" at all.
If your looking for a grand narrative of American History this is a good place to go!
In the introduction he says he wants to highlight some names that otherwise get lost in the major works of history and he does that good. He talks about how he writes as a Christian but there is no indication of "Provedential History" at all.
If your looking for a grand narrative of American History this is a good place to go!
May 11, 2026
Brief snapshots of important historical events and figures. Not narratively driven, so was not as enjoyable as other history books. It is not meant to be though. It's a textbook to give a giant overview of hundreds of years and a solid one at that. We can also deeply appreciate his examination of Christianity's fundamental influence over this country.
A Few Fun Things
- The British came up big for the colonies in the French Indian War. They sent tons of funds and troops to help fight the incursion of the French. This hurt their pockets. This also essentially left America up for grabs. The colonists took it and then got sick of the British 12 years later as taxes became too much, partly to incur funds spent on the FIW.
- Instead of "We the people.." Patrick Henry wanted the Constitution to start with "We the states .." He was probably right in his fears around the Constitution's parameters being ripe for a too-big and too-powerful central government. This also drove him to work hard on the Bill of Rights.
- North Africa Barbary pirates- At one point, 1/5 of the national budget went to payoffs and protection extortion to North African Barbary Pirates. That's a wild fact, but I've seen us spend money on worse for sure.
- One historian called John Randolph the most important historical figure in the United States. I had never heard of John Randolph before this book.
- The 1801 Cane Ridge Revival would've been an absolute trip to observe or be a part of.
- Before the cotton gin, one person could clean about 1 lb of cotton per day. After the invention, one person could clean 50 lb.
- John Quincy Adams supporters started calling Andrew Jackson a "Jackass" so Jackson used it as his parties logo. Power move.
- General George McClellan found Robert E Lee's battle plans before Harper's Ferry. His indecisiveness after finding said plans peolonger the war, allowed Lee to escape unscathed, and probably cost thousands of lives in further bloodshed. Leaders must seek wisdom counsel and deliberate, but leaders also must act rather swiftly and decisively.
I look forward to reading vol 2
A Few Fun Things
- The British came up big for the colonies in the French Indian War. They sent tons of funds and troops to help fight the incursion of the French. This hurt their pockets. This also essentially left America up for grabs. The colonists took it and then got sick of the British 12 years later as taxes became too much, partly to incur funds spent on the FIW.
- Instead of "We the people.." Patrick Henry wanted the Constitution to start with "We the states .." He was probably right in his fears around the Constitution's parameters being ripe for a too-big and too-powerful central government. This also drove him to work hard on the Bill of Rights.
- North Africa Barbary pirates- At one point, 1/5 of the national budget went to payoffs and protection extortion to North African Barbary Pirates. That's a wild fact, but I've seen us spend money on worse for sure.
- One historian called John Randolph the most important historical figure in the United States. I had never heard of John Randolph before this book.
- The 1801 Cane Ridge Revival would've been an absolute trip to observe or be a part of.
- Before the cotton gin, one person could clean about 1 lb of cotton per day. After the invention, one person could clean 50 lb.
- John Quincy Adams supporters started calling Andrew Jackson a "Jackass" so Jackson used it as his parties logo. Power move.
- General George McClellan found Robert E Lee's battle plans before Harper's Ferry. His indecisiveness after finding said plans peolonger the war, allowed Lee to escape unscathed, and probably cost thousands of lives in further bloodshed. Leaders must seek wisdom counsel and deliberate, but leaders also must act rather swiftly and decisively.
I look forward to reading vol 2
January 16, 2022
As a high school teacher who read this extremely accessible overview in order to assess both volumes for use in my classes (especially Advanced Placement), I found Thomas Kidd's writing to be engaging and comprehensive. With an admittedly religious emphasis that is sadly missing from most other textbook treatments, Volume I is an excellent, fair and even-handed corrective. This summary covers essential ground but nevertheless is bold enough to delve deeply into historical complexities that are not often covered elsewhere. Through it all, the course of American history is explained and illustrated in a plain-spoken and forthright manner. I trust that my students will enjoy reading a narrative--a set of stories, actually--that does not condescend to them, but instead challenges them to think deeply about historical developments and personalities from multiple worldview perspectives.
April 6, 2026
I read this to see if it might work as a high school history spine for my kids that use the Ambleside Online curriculum. I found it well-written, with a narrative style that keeps the reader interested. I also appreciated its approach where it does not come off at all anti-American, but is still honest about the some of the US's historical failures and missteps. The other thing I really liked was the inclusion of the ways Christianity developed alongside the rest of the American story. This was a much better look at American History than I got in my underwhelming public high school class. I'm pretty sure I will use this for at least one of my kids. The page count is not so high that biographies and primary source documents can't easily be included alongside.
June 9, 2021
Very readable, interesting volume one of American History, ending with Reconstruction. Kidd, who is a professor at Baylor, covers all of the main characters and events, but includes a lot of fascinating quotations and side stories of common people that illustrate the times. He especially highlights religious history. He balances praise for the good with criticism for the bad and the ugly in American history.
May 7, 2023
This was a delightfully honest read. It was faithful about the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Although a textbook, it was readable, engaging, and comprehensive! I felt at many times challenged by the material and it has made a deep impression on me.
I am constantly mulling over the ideas presented in this book and I have made many associations. I am looking forward to reading Volume II in the fall!
Although a textbook, it was readable, engaging, and comprehensive! I felt at many times challenged by the material and it has made a deep impression on me.
I am constantly mulling over the ideas presented in this book and I have made many associations. I am looking forward to reading Volume II in the fall!
December 31, 2021
This is such a refreshing history book. I appreciate it so much. I looked long and hard for an approachable and yet reputable history of America that both dealt with Christianity's influence, and was neither anti-christian nor Christian nationalist. This has been all of that and more. I've learned a great deal, as has my high school student.
May 11, 2026
I’ve not read history textbooks to compare this to. But I realize how little I paid attention in my high school AP US history class and how many gaps in American history I have. Read in light of America 250. One of the things that surprised me most was that Democrats were the party of the south and the KKK and Republicans were the party of the African-American abolitionists.
April 7, 2020
An excellent over voew of American history. It does not shy away from tackling the good, the bad and the ugly of our history while remaining balanced and not rabidly Anti-American as is the norm for leftist revisionist views of history. Will certainly use this to help teach my kids history.
July 11, 2020
Great read! Filled in many holes which public schooling missed. Details were informative and important when learning about themes in American history.
February 7, 2023
The book was really good. Only the history of 1860s could be written a little better.
Read
November 25, 2023Good overview of America's history for kids.
Want to Read
June 13, 2024recommended by Jasmine Holmes
August 26, 2025
Great read to get to terms with early American history, and some notion that persist to today.
December 24, 2025
Great book highlighting the religious history of America alongside sociopolitical developments. Needs more maps though.
March 11, 2026
Got forced to read this at the young age of 8. Don't remember much now, but I do know it was interesting.
April 3, 2019
A skillful, professional narrative of our history that gives ample focus to religion in America. My full review: https://medium.com/park-recommendatio...
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews