ebooks Freedom Just Around the Corner: A New American History: 1585-1828 by Walter A. McDougall in History

Review

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Loved It When They Didn't Talk PoliticsBy L. M YoungThis history of the colonial and then pre-James Polk United States is billed as a history of "the brave; brilliant; and flawed people who made America great...native-born and immigrant: German; Latin; African; and British; farmers; engineers; planters and merchants; Protestants; Freemasons; Catholics; and Jews...and the American scofflaws; speculators; rogues; and demagogues." And that's when it's at its best; talking about those little people who made up the US: teamsters; the rare woman planters like Caty Greene; pioneers; those who bucked the system and moved west; the Native Americans; etc. But; of course; to do a proper history; one has to get through the political machinations as well; and there you will find this volume harking back to a normal social studies book. So I pretty much read through it in fits and starts; dozing over the politics until they got back to the individual experiences of the individuals. There are some great pieces on Catherine "Caty" Green; the unconventional widow of General Nathaniel Greene; Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr; the southern planters vs. the northern farmers; etc. Plus McDougall profiles each of the states that entered the union following the revolution through 1848.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Terrific overview of early AmericaBy Fred D. Seth; Jr.Walter McDougall is a giant of the History field. This book and his follow-up "Throes of Democracy" cover American History from the earliest settlers through Reconstruction. The "Freedom" book covers up to the rise of Jackson. McDougal writes about the people who shape each era; smaller interesting contributors and those who made a huge impact but are now largely forgotten. Dr. McDougal's way with words makes this a page turner. It is a long read; but I was sorry to see it end. Whether you are a casual non-fiction reader or serious historian; reading this book is both an interesting and learning experience. I highly recommend it.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. An American History for a new MilleniumBy Jeffrey W. BinderIt's not often that you get an erudite scholar of history who is also a gifted author (and yes; it IS possible to be one or the other). This book is history at its finest; on both counts. McDougall revisits stories you thought you knew and presents them in ways that will surprise and delight you. It's not just the secret personal stories behind the events (naughty Caty Greene; why the Virginians were shocked by the over-mountain men (and still are); it's the fact that he brings a wealth of knowledge to bear on new theories of who we are; what we brought with us; and what we left behind. In one brilliant passage; he describes the 4 Englands that created colonies; and the vital similarities and differences between them: the language quirks that exist today (East Anglian accents in Downeast Maine; for example); their attitudes toward community; education; commerce; and freedom. He shows us how different they were (and yes; there are passages on the Dutch; the Germans; and the African American slaves)...and what; in an astounding turn of events and cultures; brought these disparate groups together to create a nation. As Christopher Hill said; “History has to be rewritten in every generation; because although the past does not change; the present does; each generation asks new questions of the past and finds new areas of sympathy as it re-lives different aspects of the experiences of its predecessors.” Walter McDougall is the latest; brilliant historian for this generation.