History of the United States by Charles A. Beard

History:History-of-the-United-States-by-Charles-A.-Beard

The history of the USA by Charles Austin Beard and his wife Mary Ritter Beard sequentially covers the nation’s history from colonial times to World War I. This book “History of the United States by Charles A. Beard” was First published in 1921, which was lauded by critics as a perfect example of an introductory history to the United States of America. Well-researched at every juncture, the central thesis of this text is that economic power is what shapes the destiny and path of history. The book “History of the United States” stresses on this hypothesis by referencing the emphasis on trade and commerce which accompanied the USA’s rise. The authors also acknowledged the role personal ideologies and convictions have in history. As this being the Founding Fathers leading the revolt against Britain’s colonial rule, essentially risking their lives and fortunes on a single, great gambit. This book was written in a very straight forward tune and is very simple and written in clarity. The voices of the authors are seldom impinged by excursions into dry facts, over-explanation or tangential discussions.

The sources drawn from are broad but authoritative, although certain opinions – namely that it was economics rather than the burning issue of slavery that was pivotal in causing the American Civil War – have fallen out of favor.This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. It can be found on web for free.

About the Author:

Charles A. Beard (1874-1948) is regarded as one of the most influential American historians in the first half of the twentieth century. He is famous for his evaluation of the founding fathers of the United States, who he believed were motivated by economics as opposed to philosophical principles. Some of his works include An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution of the United States, Economic Origins of Jeffersonian Democracy, and The Administration and Politics of Tokyo.

You can also download “Fire and Fury” by clicking here.

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