American History (Combined Edition) brings together the complete second editions of Thomas S. Kidd's American History, volumes 1 and 2, in a single, accessible textbook. Spanning from the earliest Native American societies to the political and cultural struggles of the present, through the reelection of President Donald Trump, this volume offers a coherent narrative of the American experience. Written in clear, engaging prose, Kidd's book entwines well-known and overlooked figures, major events, and formative ideas.
With Christianity central to the story, this combined edition equips students with historical insight and critical perspective to wrestle thoughtfully with the forces shaping contemporary American life.
**Pair with the companion American History Workbook!
"Every teacher knows the frustration of trying to find a good textbook. The annual ritual makes them doubt any textbook exists that engages students, balances coverage with detail, and avoids the dreariness of ideological fashions. American history textbooks are among the worst offenders. Thomas Kidd has taken on the challenge and has written a survey of American history that goes beyond solving the problem. He highlights the experiences of ordinary people whose lives intersected with great events, brings religion back in from the margins of national life, and equips students to understand the often confusing world into which they were born."
--Richard Gamble, professor of history, Anna Margaret Ross Alexander Chair of History and Politics, Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, MI
"In this volume of early American History through Civil War and Reconstruction, Kidd not only provides students with an exceptionally well-documented account of our political history, but an astute assessment of the Christian movements that shaped the course of our nation, be they the Puritans of New England or the evangelicals of the abolitionist movements. This clear and even-handed account cuts against the banality we find in most history textbooks today."
--David Goodwin, president, Association of Classical Christian Schools
"This American history textbook sets a new standard for balanced treatment of political and cultural issues. Brisk and readable, it gives coverage of American history all the way through the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the election of Donald Trump, which so many textbooks don't reach. This new narrative is particularly valuable for balancing attention to minority groups and events crucial to the shaping and development of Christian culture and its impact on the main events of American history. It is about time that an American history textbook took notice of figures such as C. S. Lewis and Pope John Paul II and their transformative influence on American religion."
--Susan Hanssen, associate professor of history, history department chair, University of Dallas, Dallas, TX
Thomas S. Kidd (PhD, University of Notre Dame) is research professor of church history at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and senior research scholar at the Institute for Studies of Religion at Baylor University.