Wiley Blackwell Companions to American History – serie

A COMPANION TO RONALD REAGAN Ronald Reagan’s life (1911–2004) spanned some of the most important domestic and international events of the last century. Moreover, his administration (1981–1989) represents a pivotal point in American history, when the pattern of US domestic and foreign policy was fundamentally and permanently changed. As perhaps the key political figure in the last quarter of the twentieth century, Reagan’s legacy continues to exercise significant influence on contemporary politics. Providing a systematic and definitive examination of Reagan’s life and legacy in its entirety, A Companion to Ronald Reagan evaluates the events, policies, politics, and people of his administration, and assesses the scope and influence of his various careers—sportscaster, actor, political activist, governor, and political icon—within the context of the times. Finally, it grapples with Reagan’s evolving historical and popular legacy in the twenty-first century. Providing the most comprehensive coverage of Ronald Reagan, his administration, and his legacy currently available, this unique companion is the definitive resource for undergraduate and graduate students as well as scholars.

A Companion to Dwight D. Eisenhower brings new depth to the historiography of this significant and complex figure, providing a comprehensive and up-to-date depiction of both the man and era. Thoughtfully incorporates new and significant literature on Dwight D. EisenhowerThoroughly examines both the Eisenhower era and the man himself, broadening the historical scope by which Eisenhower is understood and interpretedPresents a complete picture of Eisenhower's many roles in historical context: the individual, general, president, politician, and citizenThis Companion is the ideal starting point for anyone researching America during the Eisenhower years and an invaluable guide for graduate students and advanced undergraduates in history, political science, and policy studiesMeticulously edited by a leading authority on the Eisenhower presidency with chapters by international experts on political, international, social, and cultural history

A Companion to James Madison and James Monroe features essays from leading academics that consider various aspects of the lives and legacies of our fourth and fifth presidents. Provides historians and students of history with a wealth of new insights into the lives and achievements of two of America’s most accomplished statesmen, James Madison and James MonroeFeatures 32 state-of-the field historiographic essays from leading academics that consider various aspects of the lives and legacies of our fourth and fifth presidentsSynthesizes the latest findings, and offers new insights based on original research into primary sourcesAddresses topics that readers often want to learn more about, such as Madison and slavery

A Companion to John Adams and John Quincy Adams presents a collection of original historiographic essays contributed by leading historians that cover diverse aspects of the lives and politics of John and John Quincy Adams and their spouses, Abigail and Louisa Catherine. Features contributions from top historians and Adams’ scholarsConsiders sub-topics of interest such as John Adams’ role in the late 18th-century demise of the Federalists, both Adams’ presidencies and efforts as diplomats, religion, and slaveryIncludes two chapters on Abigail Adams and one on Louisa Adams

A Companion to American Sport History presents a collection of original essays that represent the first comprehensive analysis of scholarship relating to the growing field of American sport history. Presents the first complete analysis of the scholarship relating to the academic history of American sportFeatures contributions from many of the finest scholars working in the field of American sport historyIncludes coverage of the chronology of sports from colonial times to the present day, including major sports such as baseball, football, basketball, boxing, golf, motor racing, tennis, and track and field Addresses the relationship of sports to urbanization, technology, gender, race, social class, and genres such as sports biographyAwarded 2015 Best Anthology from the North American Society for Sport History (NASSH)

A Companion to 19th-Century America is an authoritative overview of current historiographical developments and major themes in the history of nineteenth-century America. Twenty-seven scholars, all specialists in their own thematic areas, examine the key debates and historiography. A thematic and chronological organization brings together the major time periods, politics, the Civil War, economy, and social and cultural history of the nineteenth century. Written with the general reader in mind, each essay surveys the historical research, the emerging concerns, and assesses the future direction of scholarship. Complete coverage of all the major themes and current debates in nineteenth-century US history assessing the state of the scholarship and future concerns.24 original essays by leading experts in nineteenth-century American history complete with up-to-date bibliographies.Chronological and thematic organization covers both traditional and contemporary fields of research - politics, periods, economy, class formation, ethnicity, gender roles, regions, culture and ideas.

A Companion to Colonial America consists of twenty-three original essays by expert historians on the key issues and topics in American colonial history. Each essay surveys the scholarship and prevailing interpretations in these key areas, discussing the differing arguments and assessing their merits. Coverage includes politics, religion, migration, gender, ecology, and many others.

A Companion to the Vietnam War contains twenty-four definitive essays on America's longest and most divisive foreign conflict. It represents the best current scholarship on this controversial and influential episode in modern American history. Highlights issues of nationalism, culture, gender, and race.Covers the breadth of Vietnam War history, including American war policies, the Vietnamese perspective, the antiwar movement, and the American home front.Surveys and evaluates the best scholarship on every important era and topic.Includes a select bibliography to guide further research.

A Companion to the American Revolution is a single guide to the themes, events, and concepts of this major turning point in early American history. Containing coverage before, during, and after the war, as well as the effect of the revolution on a global scale, this major reference to the period is ideal for any student, scholar, or general reader seeking a complete reference to the field. Contains 90 articles in all, including guides to further reading and a detailed chronological table.Explains all aspects of the revolution before, during, and after the war.Discusses the status and experiences of women, Native Americans, and African Americans, and aspects of social and daily life during this period.Describes the effects of the revolution abroad.Provides complete coverage of military history, including the home front.Concludes with a section on concepts to put the morality of early America in today’s context.

A Companion to 20th-Century America is an authoritative survey of the most important topics and themes of twentieth-century American history and historiography. Contains 29 original essays by leading scholars, each assessing the past and current state of American scholarshipIncludes thematic essays covering topics such as religion, ethnicity, conservatism, foreign policy, and the media, as well as essays covering major time periodsIdentifies and discusses the most influential literature in the field, and suggests new avenues of research, as the century has drawn to a close

A Companion to the American South surveys and evaluates the most important and innovative writing on the entire sweep of the history of the southern United States. Contains 29 original essays by leading experts in American Southern history.Covers the entire sweep of Southern history, including slavery, politics, the Civil War, race relations, religion, and women's history.Surveys and evaluates the best scholarship on every important era and topic.Summarizes current debates and anticipates future concerns.

A Companion to the American West is a rigorous, illuminating introduction to the history of the American West. Twenty-five essays by expert scholars synthesize the best and most provocative work in the field and provide a comprehensive overview of themes and historiography. Covers the culture, politics, and environment of the American West through periods of migration, settlement, and modernizationDiscusses Native Americans and their conflicts and integration with American settlers

A Companion to the Civil War and Reconstruction addresses the key topics and themes of the Civil War era, with 23 original essays by top scholars in the field. An authoritative volume that surveys the history and historiography of the U.S. Civil War and ReconstructionAnalyzes the major sources and the most influential books and articles in the fieldIncludes discussions on scholarly advances in U.S. Civil War history.

This is an authoritative volume of historiographical essays that survey the state of U.S. diplomatic history. The essays cover the entire range of the history of American foreign relations from the colonial period to the present. They discuss the major sources and analyze the most influential books and articles in the field. Includes discussions of new methodological approaches in diplomatic history.

A Companion to Post-1945 America is an original collection of 34 essays by key scholars on the history and historiography of Post-1945 America. Covers society and culture, people and movements, politics and foreign policySurveys and evaluates the best scholarship on every important era and topicIncludes book review section on essential readings

A Companion to American Technology is a groundbreaking collection of original essays that analyze the hard-to-define phenomenon of “technology” in America. 22 original essays by expert scholars cover the most important features of American technology, including developments in automobiles, television, and computingAnalyzes the ways in which technologies are organized, such as in the engineering profession, government, medicine and agricultureIncludes discussions of how technologies interact with race, gender, class, and other organizing structures in American society

A Companion to African American History is a collection of original and authoritative essays arranged thematically and topically, covering a wide range of subjects from the seventeenth century to the present day. Analyzes the major sources and the most influential books and articles in the fieldIncludes discussions of globalization, region, migration, gender, class and social forces that make up the broad cultural fabric of African American history

A Companion to American Cultural History offers a historiographic overview of the scholarship, with special attention to the major studies and debates that have shaped the field, and an assessment of where it is currently headed. 30 essays explore the history of American culture at all analytic levelsWritten by scholarly experts well-versed in the questions and controversies that have activated interest in this burgeoning fieldPart of the authoritative Blackwell Companions to American History seriesProvides both a chronological and thematic approach: topics range from British America in the Eighteenth Century to the modern day globalization of American Culture; thematic approaches include gender and sexuality and popular culture

This volume explores more than two centuries of literature on the First Ladies, from Martha Washington to Michelle Obama, providing the first historiographical overview of these important women in U.S. history. Underlines the growing scholarly appreciation of the First Ladies and the evolution of the position since the 18th centuryExplores the impact of these women not only on White House responsibilities, but on elections, presidential policies, social causes, and in shaping their husbands’ legaciesBrings the First Ladies into crisp historiographical focus, assessing how these women and their contributions have been perceived both in popular literature and scholarly debateProvides concise biographical treatments for each First Lady

A Companion to American Environmental History gathers together a comprehensive collection of over 30 essays that examine the evolving and diverse field of American environmental history. Provides a complete historiography of American environmental historyBrings the field up-to-date to reflect the latest trends and encourages new directions for the fieldIncludes the work of path-breaking environmental historians, from the founders of the field, to  contributions from innovative young scholarsTakes stock of the discipline through five topically themed parts, with essays ranging from American Indian Environmental Relations to Cities and Suburbs

This volume of original essays by leading scholars is an innovative, thorough introduction to the history and culture of California. Includes 30 essays by leading scholars in the fieldEssays range widely across perspectives, including political, social, economic, and environmental historyEssays with similar approaches are paired and grouped to work as individual pieces and as companions to each other throughout the textProduced in association with the Huntington-USC Institute on California and the West

A Companion to American Cultural History offers a historiographic overview of the scholarship, with special attention to the major studies and debates that have shaped the field, and an assessment of where it is currently headed. 30 essays explore the history of American culture at all analytic levelsWritten by scholarly experts well-versed in the questions and controversies that have activated interest in this burgeoning fieldPart of the authoritative Blackwell Companions to American History seriesProvides both a chronological and thematic approach: topics range from British America in the Eighteenth Century to the modern day globalization of American Culture; thematic approaches include gender and sexuality and popular culture

A Companion to the Gilded Age and Progressive Era presents a collection of new historiographic essays covering the years between 1877 and 1920, a period which saw the U.S. emerge from the ashes of Reconstruction to become a world power. The single, definitive resource for the latest state of knowledge relating to the history and historiography of the Gilded Age and Progressive EraFeatures contributions by leading scholars in a wide range of relevant specialtiesCoverage of the period includes geographic, social, cultural, economic, political, diplomatic, ethnic, racial, gendered, religious, global, and ecological themes and approachesIn today’s era, often referred to as a “second Gilded Age,” this book offers relevant historical analysis of the factors that helped create contemporary societyFills an important chronological gap in period-based American history collections

An accessible and authoritative overview of the scholarship that has shaped our understanding of one of the most iconic battles in the history of the American WestCombines contributions from an array of respected scholars, historians, and battlefield scientistsOutlines the political and cultural conditions that laid the foundation for the Centennial Campaign and examines how George Armstrong Custer became its figureheadProvides a detailed analysis of the battle maneuverings at Little Bighorn, paying special attention to Indian testimony from the battlefieldConcludes with a section examining how the Battle of Little Bighorn has been mythologized and its pervading influence on American culture

A Companion to the History of American Science offers a collection of essays that give an authoritative overview of the most recent scholarship on the history of American science. Covers topics including astronomy, agriculture, chemistry, eugenics, Big Science, military technology, and moreFeatures contributions by the most accomplished scholars in the field of science historyCovers pivotal events in U.S. history that shaped the development of science and science policy such as WWII, the Cold War, and the Women’s Rights movement

Covers the entire range of the history of U.S. foreign relations from the colonial period to the beginning of the 21st century.A Companion to U.S. Foreign Relations is an authoritative guide to past and present scholarship on the history of American diplomacy and foreign relations from its seventeenth century origins to the modern day. This two-volume reference work presents a collection of historiographical essays by prominent scholars. The essays explore three centuries of America’s global interactions and the ways U.S. foreign policies have been analyzed and interpreted over time. Scholars offer fresh perspectives on the history of U.S. foreign relations; analyze the causes, influences, and consequences of major foreign policy decisions; and address contemporary debates surrounding the practice of American power.The Companion covers a wide variety of methodologies, integrating political, military, economic, social and cultural history to explore the ideas and events that shaped U.S. diplomacy and foreign relations and continue to influence national identity. The essays discuss topics such as the links between U.S. foreign relations and the study of ideology, race, gender, and religion; Native American history, expansion, and imperialism; industrialization and modernization; domestic and international politics; and the United States’ role in decolonization, globalization, and the Cold War. A comprehensive approach to understanding the history, influences, and drivers of U.S. foreign relation, this indispensable resource: Examines significant foreign policy events and their subsequent interpretationsPlaces key figures and policies in their historical, national, and international contextsProvides background on recent and current debates in U.S. foreign policyExplores the historiography and primary sources for each topicCovers the development of diverse themes and methodologies in histories of U.S. foreign policy Offering scholars, teachers, and students unmatched chronological breadth and analytical depth, A Companion to U.S. Foreign Relations: Colonial Era to the Present is an important contribution to scholarship on the history of America’s interactions with the world.

With 30 historiographical essays by established and rising scholars, this Companion is a comprehensive picture of the presidencies and legacies of Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter. Examines important national and international events during the 1970s, as well as presidential initiatives, crises, and legislationDiscusses the biography of each man before entering the White House, his legacy and work after leaving office, and the lives of Betty Ford, Rosalynn Carter, and their familiesCovers key themes and issues, including Watergate and the pardon of Richard Nixon, the Vietnam War, neoconservatism and the rise of the New Right, and the Iran hostage crisisIncorporates presidential, diplomatic, military, economic, social, and cultural historyUses the most recent research and newly released documents from the two Presidential Libraries and the State Department

A Companion to Dwight D. Eisenhower brings new depth to the historiography of this significant and complex figure, providing a comprehensive and up-to-date depiction of both the man and era. Thoughtfully incorporates new and significant literature on Dwight D. EisenhowerThoroughly examines both the Eisenhower era and the man himself, broadening the historical scope by which Eisenhower is understood and interpretedPresents a complete picture of Eisenhower's many roles in historical context: the individual, general, president, politician, and citizenThis Companion is the ideal starting point for anyone researching America during the Eisenhower years and an invaluable guide for graduate students and advanced undergraduates in history, political science, and policy studiesMeticulously edited by a leading authority on the Eisenhower presidency with chapters by international experts on political, international, social, and cultural history

The most important collection of essays on American Women's HistoryThis collection incorporates the most influential and groundbreaking scholarship in the area of American women's history, featuring twenty-three original essays on critical themes and topics. It assesses the past thirty years of scholarship, capturing the ways that women's historians confront issues of race, class, gender, and sexuality. This second edition updates essays related to Indigenous women, slavery, the American Revolution, Civil War, the West, activism, labor, popular culture, civil rights, and feminism. It also includes a discussion of laws, capitalism, gender identity and transgender experience, welfare, reproductive politics, oral history, as well as an exploration of the perspectives of free Blacks and migrants and refugees.Spanning from the 15th through the 21st centuries, chapters show how historians of women, gender, and sexuality have challenged established chronologies and advanced new understandings of America's political, economic, intellectual and social history.This edition also features a new essay on the history of women's suffrage to coincide with the 100th anniversary of passage of the 19th Amendment, as well as a new article that carries issues of women, gender and sexuality into the 21st century. Includes twenty-three original essays by leading scholars in American women's, gender and sexuality historyHighlights the most recent scholarship on the key debates and future directions of this popular and contemporary fieldSubstantially updates the first edition with new authors and topics that represent the expanding fields of women, gender, and sexualityEngages issues of race, ethnicity, region, and class as they shape and are shaped by women's and gender historyCovers the breadth of American Women's history, including Native women, colonial law and religion, slavery and freedom, women's activism, work and welfare, culture and capitalism, the state, feminism, digital and oral history, and moreA Companion to American Women's History, Second Edition is an ideal book for advanced undergraduates and graduate students studying American/U.S. women's history, history of gender and sexuality, and African American women's history. It will also appeal to scholars of these areas at all levels, as well as public historians working in museums, archives, and historic sites.