Overview
"Give Me Liberty!: An American History" by Eric Foner is a comprehensive, insightful, and well-crafted exploration of American history, focusing on the theme of freedom and its evolution from the earliest days of colonization to contemporary times. The 6th edition of this textbook, split into two volumes, covers a vast array of topics, events, and figures that have shaped the United States. Eric Foner, a renowned historian, emphasizes the contested nature of liberty and the diverse experiences of Americans in their pursuit of freedom.
Structure and Content
The textbook is organized into two volumes, each consisting of multiple chapters that are chronologically arranged. Volume 1 covers American history up to 1865, while Volume 2 continues from Reconstruction to the present day. Each chapter includes a blend of political, social, economic, and
cultural history, ensuring a holistic understanding of the past.
Volume 1: To 1865
Chapter 1: A New World
• Native American Societies: Discusses the diversity and complexity of indigenous cultures before European contact.
• European Exploration and Conquest: Examines the motivations and consequences of European exploration, focusing on Spain, France, and England.
• Columbian Exchange: Explores the profound impact of the exchange of goods, people, and diseases between the Old and New Worlds.
Chapter 2: Beginnings of English America, 16071660
• Jamestown and the Chesapeake: Chronicles the establishment of Jamestown, the struggles of
early colonists, and the development of tobacco economy.
• Puritan New England: Explores the religious motivations for colonization and the societal structures of the New England colonies.
• Colonial Society: Discusses labor systems, including indentured servitude and the beginnings of African slavery.
Chapter 3: Creating Anglo-America, 1660-1750
• Expansion and Conflict: Describes the growth of the colonies, conflicts with Native Americans, and colonial wars.
• Slave Societies: Examines the entrenchment of slavery in the southern colonies and the development of slave culture.
• Economic and Social Change: Discusses the rise of a colonial elite, mercantilism, and the impact of the Enlightenment.
Chapter 4: Slavery, Freedom, and the Struggle for Empire, 1750-1763
• Colonial Rivalries: Details the global struggle for empire between Britain and France, culminating in the Seven Years’ War.
• Slave Trade and Plantation Economies: Explores the transatlantic slave trade and the brutal realities of plantation life.
• Colonial Identities: Discusses the formation of a distinct colonial identity and the beginnings of resistance to British rule.
Chapter
5: The American Revolution, 1763-1783
• Causes of Revolution: Examines the political, economic, and ideological causes of the American Revolution.
• War for Independence: Chronicles the major battles, strategies, and key figures in the Revolutionary War.
• Social Impact: Discusses the revolution’s impact on different groups, including women, Native Americans, and African Americans.
Chapter 6: The Revolution Within
• Creating a Republic: Explores the challenges of creating new republican governments and the drafting of state constitutions.
• Expanding Freedom: Examines the changes and continuities in the concepts of liberty and equality during and after the revolution.
• Economic and Social Change: Discusses postwar economic challenges, including debt, inflation, and the impact on different social classes.
Chapter 7: Founding a Nation, 1783-1791
• Articles of Confederation: Analyzes the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and the events leading to the Constitutional Convention.
• Constitutional Convention: Details the debates and compromises that resulted in the U.S. Constitution.
• Ratification and the Federalist Era: Examines the Federalist and Anti-Federalist debates over
ratification and the early years of the new government.
Chapter 8: Securing the Republic, 1791-1815
• Federalist Policies: Discusses the policies of the Washington and Adams administrations, including economic and foreign policy challenges.
• Jeffersonian Democracy: Examines the rise of the Democratic-Republican Party and the presidency of Thomas Jefferson.
• War of 1812: Chronicles the causes, major events, and consequences of the War of 1812.
Chapter 9: The Market Revolution, 1800-1840
• Economic Transformation: Describes the technological innovations, transportation developments, and market expansion that characterized the Market Revolution.
• Social Impact: Discusses the impact on workers, including the rise of wage labor, the factory system, and changes in gender roles.
• Political Responses: Examines the political responses to economic changes, including the rise of Jacksonian democracy.
Chapter 10: Democracy in America, 1815-1840
• Jacksonian Era: Analyzes the political philosophy and policies of Andrew Jackson and his impact on American politics.
• Expanding Suffrage: Discusses the expansion of suffrage and the increasing participation of white men in the political process.
• Reform Movements: Explores the various reform movements of the period, including temperance, abolitionism, and women’s rights.
Chapter 11: The Peculiar Institution
• Slavery in the South: Examines the economics, culture, and daily life of slavery in the southern United States.
• Slave Resistance: Discusses the various forms of resistance by enslaved people, including revolts, escapes, and everyday defiance.
• Southern Society: Analyzes the social hierarchy of the South and the impact of slavery on white and black communities.
Chapter 12: An Age of Reform, 1820-1840
• Religious Revivals: Explores the Second Great Awakening and its influence on American society and reform movements.
• Abolitionism: Chronicles the rise of the abolitionist movement and key figures like William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglass.
• Women’s Rights: Discusses the early women’s rights movement, including the Seneca Falls Convention and the push for suffrage and equality.
Chapter 13: The Rise of a New Nation, 1840-1860
• Westward Expansion: Examines the ideology of Manifest Destiny and the expansion into western territories.
• Mexican-American War: Chronicles the causes, major events, and consequences of the MexicanAmerican War.
• Sectional Conflict: Discusses the increasing tensions between the North and South over issues like slavery, tariffs, and states’ rights.
Chapter 14: A House Divided, 1840-1861
• Slavery and Politics: Analyzes the political crises of the 1850s, including the Compromise of 1850, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and the Dred Scott decision.
• Lincoln’s Rise: Chronicles the rise of Abraham Lincoln and the formation of the Republican Party.
• Secession: Discusses the secession of southern states and the formation of the Confederacy, leading to the outbreak of the Civil War.
Chapter 15: The Civil War, 1861-1865
• Military Campaigns: Describes the major military campaigns and battles of the Civil War, including Gettysburg, Antietam, and Sherman’s March.
• Home Fronts: Examines the impact of the war on civilian life in both the North and South, including economic and social changes.
• Emancipation: Discusses the Emancipation Proclamation, the role of African American soldiers, and the war’s impact on slavery.
Chapter 16: Reconstruction, 1865-1877
• Reconstruction Policies: Analyzes the various policies and approaches to Reconstruction, including Presidential and Radical Reconstruction.
• Freedpeople’s Lives: Examines the experiences of newly freed African Americans, including the establishment of schools, churches, and communities.
• End of Reconstruction: Discusses the Compromise of 1877, the rise of Jim Crow laws, and the long-term impact of Reconstruction on American society.
Volume 2: Since 1865
Chapter 17: Freedom’s Boundaries, at Home and Abroad, 1890-1900
• Industrial America: Examines the rise of industrialization, labor unions, and the Gilded Age.
• Imperialism: Discusses American imperialism, including the Spanish-American War and the annexation of territories.
• Social Change: Analyzes the social changes of the period, including immigration, urbanization, and the responses to these changes.
Chapter 18: The Progressive Era, 1900-1916
• Progressive Reforms: Describes the major political, social, and economic reforms of the Progressive Era.
• Women’s Suffrage: Chronicles the fight for women’s suffrage, leading to the 19th Amendment.
• Social Justice Movements: Examines various social justice movements, including those led by figures like Jane Addams and W.E.B. Du Bois.
Chapter 19: Safe for Democracy: The United States and World War I, 1916-1920
• Causes and Course of WWI: Discusses the causes of World War I and the U.S. involvement in the conflict.
• Home Front: Examines the impact of the war on American society, including propaganda, the economy, and civil liberties.
• Peace and Aftermath: Analyzes the Treaty of Versailles, the League of Nations, and the postwar Red Scare.
Chapter 20: From Business Culture to Great Depression: The Twenties, 1920-1932
• Roaring Twenties: Describes the cultural, social, and economic dynamism of the 1920s.
• Great Depression: Chronicles the causes and impact of the Great Depression on American society.
• Political Responses: Examines the political responses to the Depression, including Hoover’s policies and the rise of Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Chapter 21: The New Deal, 1933-1940
• New Deal Programs: Describes the major programs and policies of the New Deal aimed at relief, recovery, and reform.
• Impact on Society: Analyzes the impact of the New Deal on various segments of society, including workers, farmers, and minorities.
• Criticism and Legacy: Discusses the criticisms of the New Deal and its long-term legacy on American government and society.
Chapter 22: Fighting for the Four Freedoms: World War II, 1941-1945
• WWII Campaigns: Chronicles the major military campaigns and battles of World War II.
• Home Front: Examines the impact of the war on American society, including economic changes, civil rights movements, and the role of women.
• End of the War: Discusses the end of the war, including the atomic bombings and the establishment of the United Nations.
Chapter 23: The United States and the Cold War, 1945-1953
• Origins of the Cold War: Analyzes the origins of the Cold War, including the ideological and geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.
• Domestic Impact: Discusses the domestic impact of the Cold War, including McCarthyism and the Red Scare.
• International Conflicts: Examines key international conflicts and events, including the Korean War and the Berlin Airlift.
Chapter 24: An Affluent Society, 1953-1960
• Economic Prosperity: Describes the economic prosperity of the 1950s, including the rise of consumer culture and suburbanization.
• Civil Rights Movement: Chronicles the early civil rights movement, including the Brown v. Board of Education decision and the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
• Cultural Changes: Examines the cultural changes of the period, including the influence of television, rock and roll, and youth culture.
Chapter 25: The Sixties, 1960-1968
• Kennedy and Johnson Administrations: Discusses the policies and events of the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, including the New Frontier and the Great Society.
• Civil Rights and Social Movements: Chronicles the major civil rights and social movements of the 1960s, including the fight for African American, women’s, and LGBTQ+ rights.
• Vietnam War: Analyzes the causes, course, and impact of the Vietnam War on American society and politics.
Chapter 26: The Conservative Turn, 1969-1988
• Nixon and Watergate: Discusses the presidency of Richard Nixon, the Watergate scandal, and its impact on American politics.
• Economic and Social Changes: Examines the economic and social changes of the 1970s and 1980s, including the rise of conservatism and the Reagan Revolution.
• Foreign Policy: Analyzes U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War, including détente, the end of the Vietnam War, and the escalation of the arms race.
Chapter 27: From Triumph to Tragedy, 1989-2001
• End of the Cold War: Chronicles the end of the Cold War, including the collapse of the Soviet Union and the implications for U.S. foreign policy.
• Domestic Issues: Discusses major domestic issues of the 1990s, including economic changes, political scandals, and social movements.
• September 11 Attacks: Examines the September 11 attacks and their impact on American society, politics, and foreign policy.
Chapter 28: A New Century and New Crises
• War on Terror: Analyzes the U.S. response to the September 11 attacks, including the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
• Economic Challenges: Discusses the economic challenges of the early 21st century, including the Great Recession and its aftermath.
• Social and Cultural Changes: Examines the social and cultural changes of the early 21st century, including the rise of social media and changing demographics.
Learning and Reference Features
**1. Primary Sources: Each chapter includes primary source documents that provide firsthand accounts
and insights into historical events. **2. Critical
Thinking Questions: Provides questions and prompts to encourage critical thinking and discussion about historical events and their significance. **3. Visual
Aids: Features maps, charts, and illustrations to enhance understanding of complex topics and events. **4. Chapter Summaries: Each chapter ends with a summary of key points and events to reinforce learning. **5. Glossary: Includes a glossary of key terms and concepts related to American history.
Conclusion
"Give Me Liberty!: An American History" (Volumes 1 and 2, 6th Edition) by Eric Foner offers a comprehensive and nuanced exploration of American history, emphasizing the central theme of freedom and its evolving meaning over time. The textbook’s integration of political, social, economic, and cultural history, along with its focus on diverse perspectives and contested nature of liberty, makes it an invaluable