Light Cummins - United States History to 1877

This 9th edition of United States History to 1877 revises the first volume of John A. Krouts popular and time-tested outline survey of American history, first published by Barnes and Noble in 1933. Professor Krout periodically updated this volume until the 1960s, when he retired from the faculty of Columbia University. Arnold S. Rice thereafter revised the 7th edition in 1971. The 8th edition was reworked and expanded by C. M. Harris in 1991.

Over the last seventy years in its various editions, this outline-based book has become a tried-and-true standard resource volume for over three generations of introductory-level history students in the United States and around the world. Much of the work of Professors Krout, Rice, and Harris remain in the pages of this current edition. Beyond that, however, every possible effort has been made to reflect in this 9th edition the most recent scholarship and current interpretations of American history. This edition contains new information about the history of women and of minorities, including Native Americans, African Americans, and Latinos. It also provides explicit emphasis on significant social and cultural developments while concentrating on the important political, economic, and foreign policy occurrences.

In addition to an expanded bibliography for additional reading, this edition contains study questions (and explanatory answers for them) designed for student use at the conclusion of each chapter. That is because this volume has been revised to meet more explicitly the requirements of Advanced Placement high school classes, along with the needs of college students enrolled in introductory United States history survey courses. The current author has taught the introductory American history course for thirty-five years at the university level while also serving for much of that time as a faculty consultant to the United States history section of the Advanced Placement program.

Note that this outline-style volume is a good place for readers to begin the focused study of United States history to 1877. On the other hand, this book most certainly does not exist in order for readers to believe that, in consulting this volume, they have conducted any sort of definitive analysis of the subject. For that reason, Professor Krouts admonition from earlier editions bears repeating here: This book is not a shortcut to knowledge about United States history, nor is it designed to save its users from additional reading, study, and critical thinking. This volume provides only the beginning for such efforts. A reasoned understanding and mastery of United States history will be gained only by additional reading in many of the excellent and special studies available, such as those recommended in the Appendix.

Light Townsend Cummins, 9th Edition