**Author:** Eric Foner
**Overview:**
"Give Me Liberty! An American History" 6th Edition by Eric Foner is a comprehensive survey of American history, presenting a balanced narrative that integrates the political, social, and cultural dimensions of the nation's past. Foner emphasizes the theme of liberty and how its definition and application have evolved over time. This edition includes updated content to reflect recent scholarship and current events, making it a relevant and engaging resource for students and educators.
### Volume 1: To 1877
#### Part One: A New World
**Chapter 1: A New World**
- **The First Americans:** Exploration of the diverse Native American cultures before European contact.
Focus on their societies, economies, and spiritual beliefs.
- **Europeans and the New World:** Motivations for European exploration and colonization, including economic ambitions, religious fervor, and political rivalries. Discussion of key figures like Columbus and the impact of the Columbian Exchange.
**Chapter 2: Beginnings of English America, 16071660**
- **Jamestown and the Virginia Colony:** The establishment of Jamestown, the challenges faced by the settlers, and the development of the tobacco economy.
- **Puritan New England:** The religious motivations for settlement, the establishment of Massachusetts Bay Colony, and the social and religious life of the Puritans.
**Chapter 3: Creating Anglo-America, 1660-1750**
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**Colonial Expansion:** The growth of the British colonies and their increasing diversity. The role of indentured servitude and the beginnings of African slavery in the colonies.
- **Colonial Society:** The development of colonial economies, the social hierarchy, and the impact of the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening on colonial culture.
**Chapter 4: Slavery, Freedom, and the Struggle for Empire, to 1763**
- **Atlantic Slave Trade:** The origins and operations of the transatlantic slave trade and its impact on African societies and the American colonies.
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**Colonial Wars:** The series of conflicts between European powers for control of North America, culminating in the French and Indian War.
#### Part Two: A New Nation
**Chapter 5: The American Revolution, 1763-1783**
- **Road to Revolution:** The growing tensions between Britain and the colonies, including the Stamp Act, Townshend Acts, and Boston Tea Party.
- **War for Independence:** Major battles, strategies, and leaders of the American Revolutionary War. The role of international allies and the impact of the war on different groups within American society.
**Chapter 6: The Revolution Within**
- **Political and Social Change:** The internal transformations brought about by the Revolution, including the spread of republican ideals and changes in social hierarchies.
- **Slavery and the Revolution:** The contradictory impact of the Revolution on slavery, with some slaves gaining freedom and others experiencing harsher conditions.
**Chapter 7: Founding a Nation, 1783-1789**
- **Articles of Confederation:** The strengths and weaknesses of America's first national government.
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**Constitutional Convention:** The debates and compromises that led to the drafting of the U.S. Constitution, including the Great Compromise and the Three-Fifths Compromise.
**Chapter 8: Securing the Republic, 1789-1815**
- **Federalist Era:** The establishment of the new government under George Washington and the challenges it faced.
- **Jeffersonian Era:** The expansion of the United States, the Louisiana Purchase, and the War of 1812.
#### Part Three: An Expanding Nation
**Chapter 9: The Market Revolution, 1800-1840**
- **Economic Transformation:** The rise of a market economy, technological innovations, and the expansion of transportation networks.
- **Social Change:** The impact of economic change on American society, including the rise of a middle class and changes in gender roles.
**Chapter 10: Democracy in America, 1815-1840**
- **Jacksonian Democracy:** The expansion of suffrage, the rise of the Democratic Party, and the presidency of Andrew Jackson.
- **Native American Removal:** The policy of Indian removal and its devastating impact on Native American communities.
**Chapter 11: The Peculiar Institution**
- **Slavery in the South:** The economic and social structure of the antebellum South, the daily lives of enslaved people, and the culture of resistance and survival.
**Chapter 12: An Age of Reform, 1820-1840**
- **Reform Movements:** The rise of various social reform movements, including temperance, abolitionism, and women's rights.
- **Religious Revival:** The Second Great Awakening and its impact on American society and reform efforts.
#### Part Four: A House Divided
**Chapter 13: A House Divided, 1840-1861**
- **Westward Expansion:** The ideology of Manifest Destiny, the annexation of Texas, and the MexicanAmerican War.
- **Sectional Tensions:** The growing divide between the North and South over issues such as slavery and states' rights.
**Chapter 14: A New Birth of Freedom: The Civil War, 1861-1865**
- **Civil War:** The major events and battles of the Civil War, including the Emancipation Proclamation and the roles of key figures like Abraham Lincoln and Robert E. Lee.
- **Home Fronts:** The impact of the war on civilians in both the North and South.
**Chapter 15: "What Is Freedom?": Reconstruction, 1865-1877**
- **Reconstruction Policies:** The various plans for rebuilding the South and integrating formerly enslaved people into American society.
- **End of Reconstruction:** The political, social, and economic challenges that led to the end of Reconstruction and the rise of Jim Crow laws.
### Volume 2: Since 1865
#### Part Five: Industrializing America
**Chapter 16: America's Gilded Age, 1870-1890**
- **Industrialization:** The rise of big business, technological innovation, and the transformation of the American economy.
- **Labor Movements:** The response of workers to industrialization, including the rise of labor unions and major strikes.
**Chapter 17: Freedom's Boundaries, at Home and Abroad, 1890-1900**
- **Imperialism:** The United States' expansion beyond its borders, including the Spanish-American War and the acquisition of overseas territories.
- **Social Struggles:** The challenges faced by various groups, including African Americans, immigrants, and women, in the face of social and economic changes.
**Chapter 18: The Progressive Era, 1900-1916**
- **Progressive Reforms:** The efforts to address the problems of industrialization through political, economic, and social reforms.
- **Progressive Presidents:** The policies and impacts of Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Woodrow Wilson.
#### Part Six: Modern America
**Chapter 19: Safe for Democracy: The United States and World War I, 1916-1920**
- **World War I:** The causes, major events, and outcomes of the war.
- **Domestic Impact:** The impact of the war on American society, including changes in civil liberties and the economy.
**Chapter 20: From Business Culture to Great Depression: The Twenties, 1920-1932**
- **Roaring Twenties:** The cultural and economic boom of the 1920s, including the rise of consumer culture and the Jazz Age.
- **Great Depression:** The causes and consequences of the Great Depression and the response of the New Deal.
**Chapter 21: The New Deal, 1932-1940**
- **New Deal Programs:** The major programs and policies of the New Deal aimed at providing relief, recovery, and reform.
- **Impact on Society:** The New Deal's impact on various groups and its long-term effects on American government and society.
**Chapter 22: Fighting for the Four Freedoms: World War II, 1941-1945**
- **World War II:** The major events and battles of World War II, including the roles of key figures and the impact of the war on the home front.
- **Aftermath:** The consequences of the war for the United States and the world.
#### Part Seven: The Cold War and After
**Chapter 23: The United States and the Cold War, 1945-1953**
- **Origins of the Cold War:** The ideological, political, and economic factors that led to the Cold War.
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**Domestic Impact:** The impact of the Cold War on American society, including McCarthyism and the Red Scare.
**Chapter 24: An Affluent Society, 1953-1960**
- **Economic Boom:** The economic growth and prosperity of the 1950s.
- **Social Changes:** The impact of economic prosperity on American society, including changes in family life, education, and culture.
**Chapter 25: The Sixties, 1960-1969**
- **Civil Rights Movement:** The struggle for civil rights and the major achievements and figures of the movement.
- **Vietnam War:** The causes, major events, and impact of the Vietnam War on American society.
**Chapter 26: The Conservative Turn, 1969-1988**
- **Rise of Conservatism:** The factors that led to the rise of conservatism in American politics.
- **Key Presidents:** The policies and impacts of Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, and Reagan.
**Chapter 27: From Triumph to Tragedy, 1989-2001**
- **End of the Cold War:** The events leading to the end of the Cold War and the impact on global politics.
- **Domestic Challenges:** The social, economic, and political challenges faced by the United States in the 1990s.
**Chapter 28: A New Century and New Crises**
- **21st Century:** The major events and issues of the early 21st century, including the September 11 attacks, the War on Terror, and the economic crisis of 2008.
- **Social Changes:** The ongoing social, cultural, and technological changes shaping modern America.
### Conclusion:
"Give
Me Liberty! An
American History"
6th Edition by Eric Foner offers a comprehensive and nuanced account of American history, emphasizing the evolving concept of liberty and its impact on the nation's development. Through detailed narratives, primary sources, and engaging writing, this edition serves as an invaluable resource for understanding the complexities of America's past and its continuing relevance to the present.