Focuses readers on the story of American history. American Stories enhances the accessibility of United States history by concentrating on the most commonly taught topics while retaining a strong narrative emphasis and chronological organization. Each chapter follows a consistent structure that maximizes comprehension. The text goes beyond the major events that have shaped America by using significant incidents to reflect historical dilemmas and the decisions made by the American people and their leaders. The authors stress themes and ideas that continue to affect Americans, as they believe the impact of change on human lives adds an essential layer to understanding history. Note: MyHistoryLab does not come automatically packaged with this text. To purchase MyHistoryLab, please visit www.MyHistoryLab.com use ISBN: “It is a fine text which, in addition to the historical information, offers thought provoking questions throughout. It is good history and appears to be written from a ‘student centered’ standpoint.” –Brian McKnight, Angelo State University “Makes the history approachable and more personal.” –David Bibb, University of Great Falls “The chapters lay out key points, terms, and events clearly and give the reader/student a good summary of these critical moments in history.” –Andrew Johns, Brigham Young University “Well written, well organized, excellent support material.” –Donald Parkerson, East Carolina University “The chapter review questions are a great resource for students when studying on their own for the quizzes/exams.” –Scotty Edler, North Central Texas College “The chapters provided a good overview of the topics. The maps were clear and the study aids keep the students focused on the big picture.” –Michael Gabriel, Kutztown University “I like just about everything, especially the end of chapter materials.” –Caryn Neumann, Miami University of Ohio “Easy to read. Short chapters but good coverage of topics and strong study features. Brought out information that was not normally in books such as women's struggles in the post revolution.” –Chad Wooley, Tarrant County College “…does a nice job in laying out key concepts without an overload of information.” –Andrew Johns, Brigham Young University “Short, sweet and to the point without any of the major concepts missing.” –Don Knox, Wayland Baptist University “The narrative is manageable from a student perspective yet has great utility to the instructor. The book brings a variety of resources to students that generate substantive discussion.” –Terrence Delaney, Three Rivers Community College “…the book shows a lot of care for students' comprehension of material through questions provided within and after each chapter.” –Wesley Borucki, Palm Beach Atlantic University H. W. Brands H. W. Brands is the Dickson Allen Anderson Centennial Professor of History at the University of Texas at Austin. He is the author of numerous works of history and international affairs, including The Devil We Knew: Americans and the Cold War (1993), Into the Labyrinth: The United States and the Middle East (1994), The Reckless Decade: America in the 1890s (1995), TR: The Last Romantic (a biography of Theodore Roosevelt) (1997), What America Owes the World: The Struggle for the Soul of Foreign Policy (1998), The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin (2000), The Strange Death of American Liberalism (2001), The Age of Gold: The California Gold Rush and the New American Dream (2002), Woodrow Wilson (2003), Andrew Jackson (2005), Traitor to His Class: The Privileged Life and Radical Presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt (2008), and American Colossus: The Triumph of Capitalism, 1865-1900 (2010). His writing has received popular and critical acclaim; several of his books have been bestsellers, and The First American and Traitor to His Class were finalists for the Pulitzer Prize. He lectures frequently across North America and in Europe. His essays and reviews have appeared in the New York Times , the Wall Street Journal , the Washington Post , the Los Angeles Times , Atlantic Monthly , and elsewhere. He is a regular guest on radio and television, and has participated in several historical documentary films T. H. Breen T. H. Breen is the Director of the Nicholas D. Chabraja Center for Historical Studies and William Smith Mason Professor of American History at Northwestern University. He received his Ph.D. from Yale University in 1968. He has taught at Northwestern since 1970. Breen’s major books include T he Character of the Good Ruler: A Study of Puritan Political Ideas in New England (1974); P uritans and Adventurers: Change and Persistence in Early America (1980); T obacco Culture: The Mentality of the Great Tidewater Planters on the Eve of Revolution (1985); and, with Stephen Innes of the University of Virginia, “Myne Owne Ground”: Race and Free