Books on U.S. History

Explore national history with this collection of study guides for fiction and non-fiction texts covering events, key figures, and viewpoints that have shaped the United States over the centuries. A sampling of topics within this collection includes the Puritans, Indigenous peoples, the successes and failures of the country's founders, U.S. presidents, war, the Great Depression, the Civil Rights Movement, and more.

Toliver's Secret

by Esther Wood Brady

Publication year 1976

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Family, Society: War

Tags Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: U.S., History: World, Historical Fiction, American Revolution, Action / Adventure

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Too Much and Never Enough

by Mary L. Trump

Publication year 2020

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Fame

Tags Politics / Government, Psychology, History: U.S., History: World, Psychology, Biography

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To the Public

by William Lloyd Garrison

Publication year 1831

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Community

Tags Social Justice, Race / Racism, History: U.S.

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Triangle

by David Von Drehle

Publication year 2003

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Gender, Society: Class, Society: Economics, Society: Immigration, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags History: U.S., Politics / Government, Crime / Legal

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Truman

by David McCullough

Publication year 1992

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Society: Nation, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Politics / Government, History: U.S., WWII / World War II, Crime / Legal, History: World, Biography

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Truman Doctrine

by Harry Truman

Publication year 1947

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Economics, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Politics / Government, History: U.S., Cold War

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Twenty Years at Hull House

by Jane Addams

Publication year 1910

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Immigration, Identity: Gender, Society: Class, Society: Community

Tags Sociology, Poverty, Industrial Revolution, Social Justice, History: U.S., History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Biography

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Twilight of Democracy

by Anne Applebaum

Publication year 2020

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Society: Nation, Society: Community

Tags Politics / Government, History: U.S., Sociology, History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy

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Tyranny of the Minority

by Steven Levitsky, Daniel Ziblatt

Publication year 2023

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Politics / Government, History: U.S., American Literature, Business / Economics, History: World, Social Justice

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Unbought and Unbossed

by Shirley Chisholm

Publication year 1970

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Race, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Gender / Feminism, History: U.S., Politics / Government, Race / Racism

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Undaunted Courage

by Stephen E. Ambrose

Publication year 1996

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Indigenous, Identity: Mental Health, Identity: Race, Natural World: Environment, Self Discovery, Society: Colonialism, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags History: U.S., American Literature, Travel Literature, Action / Adventure

Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West is a landmark work of historical nonfiction by historian and author Stephen E. Ambrose, first published in 1996. A leading scholar of American military and political history, Ambrose was the author of numerous acclaimed books, including Band of Brothers and D-Day: June 6, 1944. In Undaunted Courage, Ambrose turns his attention to the Lewis and Clark Expedition, presenting it as both a... Read Undaunted Courage Summary

Undefeated

by Steve Sheinkin

Publication year 2017

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Indigenous, Society: Colonialism

Tags History: U.S., Sports, Diversity, Race / Racism, Children's Literature, History: World, Biography

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Under the Banner of Heaven

by Jon Krakauer

Publication year 2003

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Crime / Legal, Religion / Spirituality, History: U.S., Mystery / Crime Fiction, Journalism, History: World, Biography

In 2003, Jon Krakauer, nonfiction author and journalist, published Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith. Now the inspiration for a television series of the same title on Hulu, the story sent shockwaves as it explored religious extremism on American soil that closely resembled the Taliban-style extremism that had captured the country’s attention following the September 11 attacks. This guide refers to the 2004 paperback edition published by First Anchor Books.Content warning:... Read Under the Banner of Heaven Summary

Unmasked

by Paul Holes, Robin Gaby Fisher

Publication year 2022

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, History: World, Biography, Crime / Legal, History: U.S.

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Up From Slavery

by Booker T. Washington

Publication year 1901

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Race, Society: Community, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags History: U.S., Race / Racism, Education, African American Literature, Reconstruction Era, History: World, Classic Fiction, Biography

Up From Slavery is an autobiography written by Booker T. Washington in 1901. Washington is most famous as the founder and first principal of the Tuskegee Institute, later Tuskegee University, a school for Black students in rural Tuskegee, Alabama. As the school became famous world-wide, Washington also became known as a public speaker, addressing diverse audiences around the world to promote his philosophy of industrial education. Historically, Washington is remembered as the first major Black... Read Up From Slavery Summary

Upstairs at the White House

by J. B. West, Mary Lynn Kotz

Publication year 1973

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Disability, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government

Tags History: U.S., Politics / Government

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V.

by Thomas Pynchon

Publication year 1963

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Identity: Disability, Life/Time: The Past, Life/Time: The Future, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Objects, Relationships: Fathers, Society: Colonialism, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags American Literature, Historical Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Satire, Addiction / Substance Abuse, History: European, History: U.S., Military / War, Crime / Legal, Post Modernism, Post-War Era

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