This work presents interpretations of the wide range of historical experiences in 19th-century America. Twenty-seven scholars demonstrate how 19th-century American historiography has evolved, summarize current historical research, and assess the future direction of scholarship.

Contributors vii Introduction 1William L. Barney PART I: POLITICS AND PUBLIC LIFE 1 Early National Politics and Power, 1800±1824 5Robert M. S. McDonald 2 The Jacksonian Era, 1825±1844 19Jonathan Atkins 3 The Sectionalization of Politics, 1845±1860 33John Ashworth 4 Civil War and Reconstruction, 1861±1877 47Vernon Burton 5 The Gilded Age, 1878±1900 61Robert W. Cherny and William L. Barney 6 American Law in the Nineteenth Century 73John E. Semonche PART II: FOREIGN RELATIONS 7 American Expansion, 1800±1867 89John M. Belohlavek 8 The Global Emergence of the United States, 1867±1900 104Eric Rauchway PART III: THE ECONOMY AND CLASS FORMATIONS 9 The Emergence of a Market Economy before 1860 121Stanley L. Engerman and Robert E. Gallman 10 Industrialization and the Rise of Corporations, 1860±1900 139David B. Sicilia 11 Urbanization 152Timothy J. Gilfoyle 12 The Development of the Working Classes 164Kevin Kenny 13 The Evolution of the Middle Class 178Cindy S. Aron PART IV: RACE, GENDER, AND ETHNICITY 14 African Americans 195Donald R. Wright 15 Native-American History 209Michael D. Green and Theda Perdue 16 Gender and the Changing Roles of Women 223Laura F. Edwards 17 Immigration and Ethnicity 238Nora Faires PART V: REGIONAL PERSPECTIVES 18 The South: From Old to New 257Stephen W. Berry 19 The Middle West 272Andrew R. L. Cayton 20 The Relational West 286Molly P. Rozum PART VI: CULTURES AND IDEAS 21 The Communications Revolution and Popular Culture 303David Hochfelder 22 Interpreting American Religion 317Catherine A. Brekus 23 Science and Technology 334Alan I. Marcus 24 A History/Historiography of Representations of America 345Barbara Groseclose Bibliography 359 Index 399

A Companion to 19th-Century America presents the most up-to-date interpretations of the wide range of historical experience in nineteenth-century America. Twenty-seven scholars - all specialists in their own thematic areas - demonstrate how nineteenth-century American historiography has evolved, summarize current historical research, and assess the future direction of scholarship. Coverage of topics encompasses not only the traditional areas of political, economic, and diplomatic history but also more recent fields of academic enquiry such as the social construction of race, ethnicity, gender, class formations, and cultural identities. Intended for scholars, students, and general readers of modern American history, this volume stands alone in providing a historiographical overview of nineteenth-century America that is both complete in its coverage and cutting-edge in its interpretations. Each chapter includes a select bibliography which serves as a convenient reference to additional reading.

“This series marks a major milestone in historiography and has no comparable, contemporary counterpart... The writing is jargon free, straightforward, and accessible to the scholar and sophisticated student as well as the general reader." History: Reviews of New Books "The volume fulfils its mission admirably: teachers will get their students up to speed by recommending chapters...They will also find many essays a ready means of enrichment and updating." Journal of American Studies "William Barney has assembled a talented and diverse group of scholars, including some of the most eminent historians in the field and a number of the brightest young scholars working in this period. Given the complexity of the period and richness of scholarship, this book does an excellent job summarizing the existing literature and suggesting new directions for future research." Saul Cornell, Ohio State University "Anyone who cares about the history of the United States will find this book of great interest and value. The authors cover every important facet of American history in this pivotal century and do so with grace, fairness, and confidence. The essays are as engaging as they they are sophisticated and up to date." Edward L. Ayers, University of Virginia

List of Contributors. Introduction: William Barney (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill). Part I: Politics and Public Life. Part II: Foreign Relations. Part III: The Economy and Class Formations. Part IV: Race, Ethnicity, and Gender. Part V: Regional Perspectives. Part VI: Culture and Ideas. Index.