Masur's book is both sweeping and concise, offering an immersion in American history, from the pre-colonial era to the current moment, and covering all of the main themes and defining events. At its core the book is guided by those whose vision of America's potential has been fulfilled, as well as by those whose dreams remained unrealized but still essential to the country's identity.

• Prologue: "Land of Hope and Dreams"


• Chapter 1: To Plant and to Conquer


• Virginia


• Massachusetts


• New York


• Native Americans


• Seven Years War


• Chapter 2: If Men Were Angels


• Revolution


• Constitution


• Political Parties


• War of 1812


• Missouri Compromise


• Chapter 3: Empire of Liberty


• Nullification


• Revival


• Removal


• Mexican-American War


• Westward Course of Empire


• Chapter 4: A Higher Law


• Compromise


• Abolition


• Bleeding Kansas


• Dred Scott


• John Brown's Raid


• Chapter 5: Government of the People


• Secession


• Civil War


• Emancipation


• Home Fronts


• Reconstruction


• Chapter 6: Survival of the Fittest


• Corruption


• Competition


• Cooperation


• Frontiers


• Imperialism


• Chapter 7: Land of Promise


• Immigration


• Progressivism


• Segregation


• Socialism


• World War I


• Chapter 8: This New Battle


• Prohibition


• Depression


• Dust Bowl


• New Deal


• WW II


• Chapter 9: Blowin' in the Wind


• Consumerism


• Cold War


• Civil Rights


• Counterculture


• Vietnam


• Chapter 10: Government is the Problem


• Watergate


• The Great Inflation


• New Right


• New Democrat


• New World Order


• Chapter 11: The Change That We Seek


• War on Terror


• Globalization


• Vote for Change


• Social Media


• American Ideals


• Epilogue: "Let America Be America Again"

Louis P. Masur is Distinguished Professor of American Studies and History at Rutgers University. He is the author of many books, including The Civil War: A Concise History, The Soiling of Old Glory, and Lincoln's Last Speech. His essays and reviews have appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, and Slate and he lectures around the country for One Day University.