The Growth of the American Republic (Volume II) [Hardcover]

Samuel Eliot Morison (Author), Henry Steele Commager (Author), William E. Leuchtenburg (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0195025946 | ISBN-13: 978-0195025941 | Publication Date: January 17, 1980 | Edition: 7

Over fifty years after its original publication, this classic work in American history is in its seventh edition. In a clear, vigorous style, its celebrated authors present the rich and complex narrative of America's experience in an account that extends from the pre-Columbian age to 1877 in Volume I, and in Volume II from 1877 to the present. Expertly revised to bring the study fully up to date, it reflects new insights derived from significant modern research.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This classic text has stood the test of time and has no equal in both presentation and analysis of the great issues in American history."--William L. Quay, Kutztown University

"Excellent, interesting, well documented."--Paula Welch, University of Florida

"The best writing in a survey text that I have ever come across....A magnificent piece of work."--Jeffrey N. Stafford, Community College of Beaver County

"An excellent source, it begins where the others leave off!"--Ronald Rr. Hagemann, Buena Vista College

"Outstanding work. Thorough."--Gary Kenyon, Barton County Community College

"An exceptionally well done condensation of the larger work. I am especially impressed by the choice of illustrations."--Dr. Norman Enhorning, Adirondack Community College

About the Author

The late Samuel Eliot Morison, twice winner of the Pulitzer Prize, was the author of numerous books including The Oxford History of the American People, The Growth of the American Republic, and Admiral of the Ocean, a biography of Columbus. Henry Steele Commager is at Amherst College. William E. Leuchtenburg is at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1008 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 7 edition (January 17, 1980)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195025946
• ISBN-13: 978-0195025941
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.5 x 2.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,511,582 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic of the "Plymouth Rock" School., March 29, 2001

By 

Jon L. Albee "Faulkner Wannabe" (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Growth of the American Republic (Volume I) (Hardcover)

This book is a classic deserving of that title. What is it that makes it truly extraordinary?

Lucidity, clarity, and topical broadness make this work particularly impressive. Though it looks like a standard college freshman text, it doesn't read that way. You're not likely to read it cover to cover like a novel, but it's perfect for grabbing off the shelf after having watched that jingoistic Hollywood production of American history, or as a primer for indulging in more penetrating American history scholarship.

It's not perfect. The regional sympathies of the primary author (Morison) are revealed from time to time. This book belongs to the Plymouth Rock School of history--the branch that teaches that everything lasting and good in American history came to New England around 1620, after St. Augustine, after Roanoke, after Jamestown. The 1840 map of the United States given on pg. 447 makes a gross error in misrepresenting the population of New Orleans, third largest city in the country at the time. Something tells me that Boston or Philadelphia would have never been overlooked in such a case. Serious students would do well to consult Woodward, Ayers, or even Philips with regard to Southern topics.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good luck, September 6, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Growth of the American Republic (Volume I) (Hardcover)

I am a high school student and i have enroled in the AP American History course for my junior year. It was quite intimidating to recieve this book and another one on my first day while being told that i had to read 7 chapters in 9 days. The burden of reading almost 190 pages of this book in such a short period of time was no little thing. However the great style and " followablility" of the book helped a lot. normaly i would have just stopped reading, but this book kept me interested. It is what i would say the history book to read, whether it's for personal knowledge or school.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars meaty and very worthwhile, December 26, 1998

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[e-mail] (Middlefield, Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Growth of the American Republic (Volume I) (Hardcover)

This book is a classic of course. Doubtless it has been assigned as homework far more frequently than it has been read for pleasure and self-improvement. The real surprise is how well it rewards the careful reader. I think it will be slow going for anyone who is not already well read in American History, but it repays the effort on every page. Pick it up any time you need some perspective on events troublesome or puzzling in American public life. You will not be disappointed. One particular recurrent theme throughout this book is the idea that Americans have (or at least had) a peculiar genius for self-government that gave us the upper hand in so many struggles.