By the early twentieth century, it became common to describe the United States as a "business civilization." President Coolidge in 1925 said, "The chief busines

This volume in Oxford's A Very Short Introduction series offers a concise, readable narrative of the vast span of American history, from the earliest human migr

Why are some countries rich and others poor? In 1500, the income differences were small, but they have grown dramatically since Columbus reached America. Since

Starting with an examination of how historians work, this "Very Short Introduction" aims to explore history in a general, pithy, and accessible manner, rather t

A concise examination of the central role of legal decisions in shaping key social issues explores topics ranging from Native American affairs and slavery to bu