ebooks Transatlantic Africa: 1440-1888 (African World Histories) by Kwasi Konadu in History

Description

The Oxford History of the United States is by far the most respected multi-volume history of our nation. The series includes three Pulitzer Prize winners; two New York Times bestsellers; and winners of the Bancroft and Parkman Prizes. Now; in the newest volume in the series; one of America's most esteemed historians; Gordon S. Wood; offers a brilliant account of the early American Republic; ranging from 1789 and the beginning of the national government to the end of the War of 1812. As Wood reveals; the period was marked by tumultuous change in all aspects of American life--in politics; society; economy; and culture. The men who founded the new government had high hopes for the future; but few of their hopes and dreams worked out quite as they expected. They hated political parties but parties nonetheless emerged. Some wanted the United States to become a great fiscal-military state like those of Britain and France; others wanted the country to remain a rural agricultural state very different from the European states. Instead; by 1815 the United States became something neither group anticipated. Many leaders expected American culture to flourish and surpass that of Europe; instead it became popularized and vulgarized. The leaders also hope to see the end of slavery; instead; despite the release of many slaves and the end of slavery in the North; slavery was stronger in 1815 than it had been in 1789. Many wanted to avoid entanglements with Europe; but instead the country became involved in Europe's wars and ended up waging another war with the former mother country. Still; with a new generation emerging by 1815; most Americans were confident and optimistic about the future of their country. Named a New York Times Notable Book; Empire of Liberty offers a marvelous account of this pivotal era when America took its first unsteady steps as a new and rapidly expanding nation.