American History: A Survey

American History is a comprehensive textbook covering the growth of the US from the precolonial period through the modern era. The book was originally published in 1961 under the title American History: A Survey and written by Richard N. Current, T. Harry Williams, and Frank Freidel, but Colombia University historian Alan Brinkley assumed authorship with the ninth edition in 1979, Brinkley was chosen for his extensive expertise on American political development and his ability to write comprehensive yet engaging analysis for a high school audience. The text became a popular resource for US history classes in high schools nationwide, especially for Advanced Placement (AP) classes.

This guide refers to edition 15e from 2015, an edition specifically published for the AP class market. In addition to the standard text, the 15e edition includes resources for AP test practice and guided sections to help students develop the critical thinking skills necessary for success in AP exams.

Summary

The text explores the cultural, political, and socioeconomic, and philosophical aspects of US history. Events are ordered chronologically, beginning with the earliest development of human culture in the US, and each of the 32 chapters covers approximately a decade. Major events, such as the Civil War, have standalone chapters, which cover important facts such as historically significant dates and major political figures and contain additional sections that synthesize the many cultural and political factors that influenced the particular event and period.