U.S. History I
Exploring American Histories: To 1877 offers a thorough exploration of American history. A customized version of a best-selling text forms the foundation of this narrative approach to U.S. history, incorporating assignments on how to do history and guiding students through analyzing primary and secondary sources.
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After each new topic is presented, students answer a few questions about the main ideas. This helps students stay focused, actively process the information, and construct new knowledge.
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Exploring American Histories: To 1877 provides everything you need for an online course—including the text and an analytics dashboard. And we can tailor the webtext to match your program’s emphasis, term length, student expectations, and assignment types.
- Mapping Global Frontiers to 1585
- American Histories
- Mapping Global Frontiers to 1585: Objectives
- Native Peoples in the Americas
- The Aztecs, the Maya, and the Incas
- Native Cultures to the North
- Europe Expands Its Reach
- Portugal Pursues Long-Distance Trade
- European Encounters with West Africa
- Worlds Collide
- Europeans Explore the Americas
- Mapmaking and Printing
- The Columbian Exchange
- Europeans Make Claims to North America
- Spanish Adventurers Head North
- Europeans Compete in North America
- Spain Seeks Dominion in the Americas
- Conclusion: A New America
- Colonization and Conflicts, 1550–1680
- American Histories
- Colonization and Conflicts, 1550–1680: Objectives
- Religious and Imperial Transformations
- Spain’s Global Empire Declines
- France Enters the Race for Empire
- The Dutch Expand into North America
- The English Seek an Empire
- Tobacco Fuels Growth in Virginia
- Expansion, Rebellion, and the Emergence of Slavery
- The English Compete for West Indies Possessions
- Pilgrims and Puritans Settle New England
- The Puritan Migration
- The Puritan Worldview
- Dissenters Challenge Puritan Authority
- Wars in Old and New England
- Conclusion: European Empires in North America
- Global Changes Reshape Colonial America, 1680–1750
- American Histories
- Global Changes Reshape Colonial America, 1680–1750: Objectives
- Europeans Expand Their Claims
- France Seeks Lands and Control
- The Pueblo Revolt and Spain’s Fragile Empire
- European Wars and American Consequences
- Indians Resist European Encroachment
- Global Conflicts on the Southern Frontier
- The Benefits and Costs of Empire
- Imperial Policies Focus on Profits
- The Atlantic Slave Trade
- Seaport Cities and Consumer Cultures
- Labor in North America
- Coping with Economic Distress
- Rural Americans Face Changing Conditions
- Slavery Takes Hold in the South
- Africans Resist Their Enslavement
- Conclusion: Changing Fortunes in British North America
- Religious Strife and Social Upheavals, 1680–1750
- American Histories
- Religious Strife and Social Upheavals, 1680–1750: Objectives
- An Ungodly Society?
- Cries of Witchcraft
- Family and Household Dynamics
- Working Families
- Reproduction and Women’s Roles
- The Limits of Patriarchal Order
- Diversity and Competition in Colonial Society
- Increasing Diversity
- Expansion and Conflict
- Religious Awakenings
- An Outburst of Revivals
- Religious Dissension
- Political Awakenings
- Dissent and Protest
- Transforming Urban Politics
- Conclusion: A Divided Society
- Wars and Empires, 1750–1774
- American Histories
- Wars and Empires, 1750–1774: Objectives
- A War for Empire, 1754–1763
- A Shift to Global War
- The Costs of Victory
- Battles and Boundaries on the Frontier
- Conflicts over Land and Labor Escalate
- Postwar British Policies and Colonial Unity
- Forging Ties across the Colonies
- Great Britain Seeks Greater Control
- Resistance to Britain Intensifies
- The Townshend Act and the Boston Massacre
- Continuing Conflicts at Home
- Tea and Widening Resistance
- The Continental Congress and Colonial Unity
- Conclusion: Liberty within Empire
- Revolutions, 1775–1783
- American Histories
- Revolutions, 1775–1783: Objectives
- The Question of Independence
- Building a Continental Army
- Reasons for Caution and for Action
- Declaring Independence
- Choosing Sides
- Choosing Neutrality
- Committing to Independence
- Fighting for Independence
- Patriots Prevail in New Jersey
- A Critical Year of Warfare
- Patriots Gain Critical Assistance
- Surviving on the Home Front
- Governing in Revolutionary Times
- Patriots Divide over Slavery
- France Allies with the Patriots
- Raising Armies and Funds
- Indian Affairs and Land Claims
- Winning the War and the Peace
- War Rages in the South
- An Uncertain Peace
- A Surprising Victory
- Conclusion: Legacies of the Revolution
- Political Cultures, 1783–1800
- American Histories
- Political Cultures, 1783–1800: Objectives
- Postwar Problems
- Indians, Land, and the Northwest Ordinance
- Depression and Debt
- On the Political Margins
- African Americans Struggle for Rights
- Women Seek Wider Roles
- Indebted Farmers Fuel Political Crises
- Reframing the American Government
- Americans Battle over Ratification
- Organizing the Federal Government
- Hamilton Forges an Economic Agenda
- Years of Crisis, 1792–1796
- The Whiskey Rebellion
- Further Conflicts on the Frontier
- The First Party System
- The Election of 1800
- Conclusion: A Young Nation Comes of Age
- New Frontiers, 1790–1820
- American Histories
- New Frontiers, 1790–1820: Objectives
- Creating an American Identity
- Literary and Cultural Developments
- The Racial Limits of American Culture
- Emigration and Colonization
- Building a National Capital
- Extending U.S. Borders
- Incorporating the Louisiana Territory
- The Supreme Court Extends Its Reach
- Democratic-Republicans Expand Federal Powers
- Remaking the U.S. Economy
- Technology Reshapes Agriculture and Industry
- Transforming Household Production
- Technology, Cotton, and Slaves
- Conclusion: New Frontiers and New Challenges
- Defending and Redefining the Nation, 1809–1832
- American Histories
- Defending and Redefining the Nation, 1809–1832: Objectives
- Conflicts at Home and Abroad
- War Erupts with Britain
- Expanding the Economy and the Nation
- Americans Expand the Nation’s Borders
- Regional Economic Development
- Economic and Political Crises
- Slavery in Missouri
- Redefining American Democracy
- Racial Restrictions and Antiblack Violence
- Political Realignments
- The Presidential Election of 1828
- Jacksonian Democracy in Action
- Confrontations over Tariffs and the Bank
- Contesting Indian Removal
- Conclusion: The Nation Faces New Challenges
- Slavery Expands South and West, 1830–1850
- American Histories
- Slavery Expands South and West, 1830–1850: Objectives
- Planters Expand the Slave System
- Urban Life in the Slave South
- The Consequences of Slavery’s Expansion
- Slave Society and Culture
- Developing an African American Culture
- Resistance and Rebellion
- Planters Tighten Control
- White Southerners without Slaves
- Planters Seek to Unify Southern Whites
- Democrats Face Political and Economic Crises
- The Battle for Texas
- Van Buren and the Panic of 1837
- The Whigs Win the White House
- The National Government Looks to the West
- Pursuing War with Mexico
- Debates over Slavery Intensify
- Conclusion: Geographical Expansion and Political Division
- Social and Cultural Ferment in the North, 1820–1850
- American Histories
- Social and Cultural Ferment in the North, 1820–1850: Objectives
- The Growth of Cities
- The Roots of Urban Disorder
- The New Middle Class
- The Rise of Industry
- Deskilling and the Response of Working Men
- The Panic of 1837 in the North
- Rising Class and Cultural Tensions
- Saving the Nation from Sin
- New Spirits Rising
- Transcendentalism
- Organizing for Change
- The Temperance Movement
- Utopian Communities
- Abolitionism Expands and Divides
- Abolition Gains Ground and Enemies
- Abolitionism and Women’s Rights
- The Rise of Antislavery Parties
- Conclusion: From the North to the Nation
- Imperial Ambitions and Sectional Crises, 1848–1861
- American Histories
- Imperial Ambitions and Sectional Crises, 1848–1861: Objectives
- Claiming the West
- The Gold Rush
- A Crowded Land
- Expansion and the Politics of Slavery
- The Fugitive Slave Act Inspires Northern Protest
- Pierce Encourages U.S. Expansion
- Sectional Crises Intensify
- The Kansas-Nebraska Act Stirs Dissent
- Bleeding Kansas and the Election of 1856
- The Decision
- From Sectional Crisis to War
- The Election of 1860
- The Lower South Secedes
- Conclusion: The Coming of the Civil War
- Civil War, 1861–1865
- American Histories
- Civil War, 1861–1865: Objectives
- The Nation Goes to War
- Both Sides Prepare for War
- Fighting for Union or against Slavery?
- Fighting for the Right to Fight
- Union Politicians Consider Emancipation
- War Transforms the North and the South
- The Northern Economy Booms
- Urbanization and Industrialization in the South
- Women Aid the War Effort
- Dissent and Protest in the Midst of War
- The Tide of War Turns
- African Americans Contribute to Victory
- The Final Battles and the Promise of Peace
- Conclusion: An Uncertain Future
- Emancipations and Reconstructions, 1863–1877
- American Histories
- Emancipations and Reconstructions, 1863–1877: Objectives
- Prelude to Reconstruction
- Reuniting Families Torn Apart by Slavery
- Free to Learn
- Black Churches Take a Leadership Role
- National Reconstructions
- Andrew Johnson and Presidential Reconstruction
- Johnson and Congressional Resistance
- Congressional Reconstruction
- The Struggle for Universal Suffrage
- Remaking the South
- Black Political Participation and Economic Opportunities
- White Resistance to Congressional Reconstruction
- The Unmaking of Reconstruction
- Congressional and Judicial Retreat
- The Presidential Compromise of 1876
- Conclusion: The Legacies of Reconstruction
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Study questions
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Assignment Advisors
Julian DelGaudio, PhD
Long Beach City College
B.T. Huntley, MA, MPhil
Front Range Community College
Publisher
David Lindrum
Executive Editor
Mary Jane Lindrum
Development Editor
Jenny Westrick
Production Coordinator
Georgia Mason
Production Editor
Stephen Clark
User Interface Design
Clint McFarlin