From These Beginnings, Volume 1 (8th Edition)

From These Beginnings views American History through engaging biographical portraits of well-known men and women, whose personalities and contributions helped shape the nation and society. Each biography provides a uniquely personal glimpse into the lives of these Americans and shows how their experiences are linked to historical events, related to everything from the environment to popular culture. From These Beginnings can be used as a stand-alone core text or as a supplement to any American history survey course, inviting students to see history not as a collection of names and dates, but as an evolving tale about people whose thoughts, feelings, and actions changed and formed the path of the nation.

The end-of-chapter "For Consideration" questions enable students to review and analyze what they have just read, encouraging them to think critically about the important concepts and themes in each individual biography. New to the eighth edition: A new Chapter 9 on Harriet Beecher Stowe, who galvanized the nation against the horrors of slavery with her pivotal work, Uncle Tom's Cabin, adds even more depth to this collection. Updated research and bibliographies throughout the volume reflect current scholarship in the field.