Events That Changed America in the Eighteenth Century: (The Greenwood Press "Events That Changed America" Series)

Designed to help students better understand the vitally important historical events of 18th century American history, this volume in the acclaimed series presents 10 major events in separate chapters. From the Great Awakening early in the century to Jefferson's Revolution of 1800, each chapter goes beyond the traditional textbook treatment of history by considering the immediate and far-reaching ramifications of each event. Events covered are: The Great Awakening, The Era of Salutary Neglect, The French and Indian War, The Stamp Act, The Boston Tea Party, The Declaration of Independence, The American Revolution, The Constitutional Convention, The XYZ Affair, and The Revolution of 1800. Each chapter features an introductory essay that presents the facts of the event, followed by an interpretive essay that places the event in a broader context and promotes student analysis. The introductory essay provides factual material in a clear, concise, chronological manner that makes complex history understandable. The interpretive essay, written by a recognized authority in the field and written in a style designed to appeal to a general readership, assesses the event in terms of its political, economic, sociocultural, and international/diplomatic significance. With its emphasis on factual details and interpretive analysis, an illustration, and an annotated bibliography for each event, a glossary of names, events, and terms of the period, a timeline of important events in eighteenth-century history, and a table of the population of the colonies and selected colonial towns, Events That Changed America in the Eighteenth Century is an ideal addition to the high school, community college, and undergraduate reference shelf, as well as excellent supplementary reading in social studies and American history courses.

Table of Contents:
Preface The Great Awakening, c. 1730s-1760 Introduction Interpretive Essay by Carl E. Kramer The Era of Salutary Neglect, c. 1720s-1750 Introduction Interpretive Essay by Thomas A. Prasch The French and Indian War, 1754-1763 Introduction Interpretive Essay by Thomas Clarkin The Stamp Act, 1765 Introduction Interpretive Essay by Thomas C. Mackey The Boston Tea Party, 1773 Introduction Interpretive Essay by Henry E. Mattox The Declaration of Independence, 1776 Introduction Interpretive Essay by Rick Kennedy The American Revolution, 1775-1783 Introduction Interpretive Essay by Steven E. Siry The Constitutional Convention, 1787 Introduction Interpretive Essay by Julia A. Woods The XYZ Affair, 1798-1800 Introduction Interpretive Essay by Donald A. Rakestraw The Revolution of 1800 Introduction Interpretive Essay by Peter G. Felton Appendix A: Glossary Appendix B: Timeline Appendix C: Population of Colonies and Selected Colonial Towns Index

About the Author :
John E. Findling is professor of history at Indiana University Southeast. He is the author of Dictionary of American Diplomatic History (1980-89), Close Neighbors, Distant Friends: United States-Central American Relations (1987), and Chicago's Great World's Fairs (1995). With Kimberly D. Pelle, he edited Historical Dictionary of World's Fairs and Expositions, 1851-1988 (1990), and Historical Dictionary of the Modern Olympic Movement (1996), and with Frank W. Thackeray, he co-edited Statesmen Who Changed the World (1993) and the other volumes in the Events That Changed the World and Events That Changed America series. Also with Frank W. Thackeray he is coseries editor of the Histories of the Modern Nations series. Frank W. Thackeray is professor of history at Indiana University Southeast. He received his PhD from Temple University. He is the author of Antecedents of Revolution: Alexander I and the Polish Congress Kingdon (1980) as well as articles on Russian-Polish relations in the 19th century and Polish-American relations in the 20th century. With John E. Findling he coedited Statesmen Who Changed the World (1993) and the other volumes in the Events That Changed the World and Events That Changed America series. Also with John E. Findling, he is co-series editor of the Histories of the Modern Nations series. He is a former Fulbright scholar in Poland.

Review :
[T]his title is an excellent supplementary resource. . . . Recommended. A fine aid to understanding the events of the 18th century. . . . This very readable volume is packed with good historical insight. The articles are well written and balanced, and the authors do not limit themselves exclusively to the 10 topics at hand. . . . [T]his source should prove valuable for U.S. history circulating collections.