Subjects / Colonial America

Best books to learn Colonial America, in order

Colonial America is usually taught as a prologue to the Revolution, which flattens two centuries into a countdown. This path treats it as its own subject: a continental overview first, then the different societies English settlers actually built, then the argument about how slavery and liberty grew together, and finally the Native world that was the real context for all of it.

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Reading paths for colonial america

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Frequently asked questions

How should I approach learning colonial america?
Colonial America is usually taught as a prologue to the Revolution, which flattens two centuries into a countdown. This path treats it as its own subject: a continental overview first, then the different societies English settlers actually built, then the argument about how slavery and liberty grew together, and finally the Native world that was the real context for all of it.
What's a good book to start colonial america with?
A strong starting point is Good wives by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich. The ordered reading paths above show exactly where it fits and what to read next.

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