The study of American history has become so complex in recent years that readers now often face a choice between a broad survey simplified to the point of distortion and daunting array of specialized studies. The need remains for a lucid overview of the principal events of each period of the nations history, together with a balanced interpretation of their significance. Benjamin W. LabareesA history of those men and womenEnglish, European, and Africanwho transformed America from a geographical expression into a new nation.