Includes index.

Part 1: The new world
The first people (43000 B.C.E
1500s C.E.) Native American history and the first European contact
West to East (1451-1507) The Christopher Columbus story
New blood for old Spain (1400-1600s) The Spanish conquest of the Americas
Errand into the wilderness (1497-1608) England colonizes the East Coast
A rock and a hard place (1608-1733) America becomes a haven of religious freedom and a land of slaves
Colonial contenders (1608-1680s) French, Dutch, and Swedish colonial efforts
A wilderness burning (1636-1748) Early wars with the Indians
A woodland Word War (1749-1763) The French and Indian War is fought
Part 2: The world turned upside down
Invitation to a Tea party (1763-1775) The origins of the American Revolution
Kindling the flames of liberty (1776-1783) The United States wins its independence. Part 3: Building the house
From many, one (1787-1797) From the Articles of Confederation to the Constitution
Growing pains (1798-1812) Early crises, the Louisiana Purchase, the Embargo, and the rise of Tecumseh
1812: The decision for war (1812-1814) The War of 1812 is fought
Fanfare for the common man (1814-1836) An era of "good feelings" and financial panic culminates in the Age of Jackson
Trails of tears (1817-1842) Andrew Jackson defeats "nullification" and exiles the Indians
Part 4: The house divided
A nation in chains (1724-1857) Slavery tears the nation apart
Westward the course (1834-1846) Early western expansion
Destiny manifested (1846-1860) The Mexican War and the California Gold Rush
A strange flag over Sumter (1859-1862) From the outbreak of Civil War to the Emancipation Proclamation
The bloody road to Appomattox and beyond (1863-1876) From Gettysburg to reconstruction. Part 5: Rebuilding the house
Sea to shining sea (1862-1878) The Homestead movement and the transcontinental railroad
Warpath (1862-1891) The Indian Wars are fought
Exploitation and enterprise (1869-1908) An age of cowboys, outlaws, financiers, and inventors
Octopus and jungle (1877-1906) Immigration, the labor movement, and Progressive reform
Part 6: World power
Over there (1898-1918) From the Spanish-American War to World War I
Booze, boom, bust (1818-1929) The Roaring Twenties and the Crash of 1929
A New Deal and a new war (1930-1941) The Great Depression and the beginning of World War II
Saving the world (1941-1945) The nation in World War II. Part 7: Superpower
War served cold
and hot (1944-1954) "Containing" communism in Europe and Korea
From the back of the bus to the Great Society (1947-1968) The Civil Rights movement, JFK's "New Frontier," and LBJ's "Great Society"
Nam (1946-1975) The Vietnam War is fought and lost
Part 8: Identity crisis
Of love, the moon, and dirty tricks (1968-1974) The rise of counterculture, a landing on the moon, the Pentagon Papers, and Watergate
Women rise, the nation drifts, and Reagan rallies (1963-1980) The liberation of women, a crisis in national morale, and the rise of Ronald Reagan. Part 9: A new world order?
A new economy, a plague, a fallen wall, and a desert in flames (1980-1911) The Reagan era, Iran-Contra, and the triumph of Desert Storm
E Pluribus Unum (1991-1999) Intolerance, rage, and the prospects for American democracy
Democracy at the turn of the Millennium (1991-2004) Big business proves disappointing, and a presidential election is disputed
Asymmetric threats (2001-2008) The nation responds to attack, the president goes to war
Election year (2008- )

Discusses American history from prehistory through 2006, including brief biographical sketches of historical figures and events from popular culture