United States History

What should we say about the United States of America? So much has already been said, adding our two cents is a bit redundant or presumptuous, depending on your perspective. Certainly, no one needs us to outline the facts, the major events and figures, or to describe our unique written Constitution and democratic-republican system.

We can offer a bit of perspective. It's nothing new, nothing we came up with on our own, but it is different from a lot of the prevailing notions about both history in general and our nation in particular.

For starters, there's no specific reference to the U.S. in the Bible. The principles found in God's Word that apply to all nations certainly apply to the United States as well, but we aren't a Christian nation, we don't hold a special place in biblical prophecy, and Manifest Destiny is the result of Enlightenment rationalist views about the Progress of Mankind rather than being rooted in any kind of Christian attitude.

That said, many of the first settlers of the New World were dedicated Christians seeking the right to worship God without the constraints of political entanglement or government-imposed strictures and doctrine. The Pilgrims came in 1620, just 13 years after the first successful English settlement at Jamestown, and the Puritan settlers followed soon after.

Their arrivals and colonization didn't make America Christian, of course. It was a broad continent, largely unknown, and the initial colonies weren't strictly bound together at first, as they were later to become. By that time, things had become substantially more secular, so that by the 18th century many Americans were just as degenerate as their European counterparts. Fortunately, men like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield were around to preach the true Gospel, and to initiate a revival known as the Great Awakening.

Secular forces were still at work, though. While there were definitely many Christians involved, the American Revolution was largely the result of Enlightenment philosophizing, and men were convinced that America could produce a virtuous and stable population if education and participatory government were enforced. So they rebelled against England, and the United States republic was formed.

Ever since, groups and individuals have tried to call Americans back to their Christian roots. That's the wrong strategy: we don't need to call anyone back to anything, we need to point the way forward to the pursuit of Christ and the bringing of His Gospel and glory to every corner of the earth no matter what our country of origin. That America has been so materially blessed simply means we have more options at our disposal for proclaiming and bringing the Word to the rest of the world.

Our study of United States history is consequently Christ-centered. Not because we think America is more Christian than other countries, but because it (like all other nations) is under Christ's control as King of Heaven and Lord of Time. Of course, you shouldn't abandon study of the facts, people and events, but they only attain true meaning when viewed through the lens of Christ's ultimate plan of redemption and self-glorification.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he is a husband and father, teaches adult Sunday school in his Presbyterian congregation, and likes weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur.Read more of his reviews here.

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18 Penny Goose
An I Can Read Book Level 3
by Sally M. Walker
from HarperCollins
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A is for Abigail
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ABC Book of Early Americana - Coloring Book
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2012 Dover from Dover Publications
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Above the Trenches
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Abraham Lincoln
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Almost Home
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Amazing Impossible Erie Canal
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Amelia Earhart: Young Aviator
Childhood of Famous Americans
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America's First Ladies - Coloring Book
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America's Paul Revere
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American History for Young Students III
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History Curriculum for 1st-6th grade
Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks
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$29.95
American History in Verse
by Burton Stevenson
from Bob Jones University Press
Poetry for 3rd-Adult
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$11.00
American History Stories Volume 1
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American Presidents - Coloring Book
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Amistad - Coloring Book
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And Then What Happened, Paul Revere?
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Angel Knew Papa and the Dog
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Childhood of Famous Americans
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Apples to Oregon
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Ballad of Lucy Whipple
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Baseball Saved Us
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Benjamin Franklin
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Benjamin Franklin: Young Printer
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Benjamin West and His Cat Grimalkin
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Betsy Ross: Designer of our Flag
Childhood of Famous Americans
by Ann Weil
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Big Book of the Old West to Color
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Boxes for Katje
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Brother Eagle, Sister Sky
by Chief Seattle, illustrated by Susan Jeffers
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Buffalo Bill
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Buffalo Bill: Frontier Daredevil
Childhood of Famous Americans
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Buffalo Bird Girl
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By the Great Horn Spoon!
by Sid Fleischman
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By the Shores of Silver Lake
Little House Series #5
by Laura Ingalls Wilder
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1940 Newbery Honor Book
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By the Shores of Silver Lake
Little House Series #5
by Laura Ingalls Wilder
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1940 Newbery Honor Book
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Caddie Woodlawn
by Carol Ryrie Brink
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1936 Newbery Medal winner
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Caleb's Story
by Patricia MacLachlan
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California Indians
First Nations of North America
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Captive Treasure
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Carolina's Courage
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Cavalier and Puritan Fashions - Coloring Book
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Chasing Space for Young Readers
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Child's First Book of American History
by Earl Schenck Miers, James Daugherty
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$32.95
Child's First Book of American History (hardcover)
by Earl Schenck Miers, James Daugherty
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$42.95
Children of the Covered Wagon
by Mary Jane Carr
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
Historical Fiction for 3rd-5th grade
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$16.75
Children of the Dust Bowl
by Jerry Stanley
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1993 NCTE Orbis Pictus Award
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Children of the Longhouse
by Joseph Bruchac
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Choosing Brave
by Angela Joy, illustrated by Janelle Washington
from Roaring Brook Press
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2023 Robert F. Sibert Honor Book
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Choppers!
Step into Reading Level 4
by Susan E. Goodman
from Random House
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$5.99
Civil War Days
American Kids in History
by David C. King
1st edition from John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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$16.95 $8.50 (1 in stock)
Civil War Fashions - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Tom Tierney
from Dover Publications
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$4.99
Civil War Uniforms - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Peter F. Copeland
from Dover Publications
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$4.99
Classical Acts and Facts History Cards: New World
from Classical Conversations
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$24.99
Clearing Weather
by Cornelia Meigs
Repint from Dover Publications
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1929 Newbery Honor Book
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$8.99
Cold War Correspondent
by Nathan Hale
from Amulet Books
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$14.99
Colonial and Early American Fashions - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Tom Tierney
from Dover Publications
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$5.99
Columbus Discovers America - Coloring Book
by Peter F. Copeland
from Dover Publications
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Copper-Toed Boots
by Marguerite de Angeli
from Wayne State University
Realistic Fiction for 3rd-6th grade
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$18.95
Courage of Sarah Noble
by Alice Dalgliesh
Reissue from Aladdin Paperbacks
Realistic Fiction for Kindergarten-6th grade
1955 Newbery Honor Book
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$5.99
Courage of Sarah Noble
by Alice Dalgliesh
from Atheneum
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$19.99
Courage to Run
Daughters of the Faith
by Wendy G. Lawton
from Moody Press
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$8.99
Cowboys of the Old West - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by David Rickman
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$4.99
Crazy Horse: Young War Chief
Childhood of Famous Americans
by George Edward Stanley
from Aladdin Paperbacks
Biography for 3rd-6th grade
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$7.99
Crispus Attucks: Black Leader of Colonial Patriots
Childhood of Famous Americans
by Dharathula H. Millender
from Aladdin Paperbacks
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$7.99 $4.00 (1 in stock)
Crossing Bok Chitto
by Tim Tingle
from Cinco Puntos Pres
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$12.95
D-Day Landings
DK Readers Level 4
by Richard Platt
from DK Publishing
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$4.99
Daily Life in a Covered Wagon
by Paul Erickson
from Puffin Books
Historical Reference for 3rd-5th Grade
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$9.99
Daniel Boone - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Peter F. Copeland
from Dover Publications
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$3.99
Daniel Boone: Young Hunter and Tracker
Childhood of Famous Americans
by Augusta Stevenson
from Aladdin Paperbacks
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$7.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
Davy Crockett: Young Rifleman
Childhood of Famous Americans
by Aileen Wells Parks
from Aladdin Paperbacks
Biography for 3rd-6th grade
in Childhood of Famous Americans (Location: BIO-COFA)
$7.99
Dear Benjamin Banneker
by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Brian Pinkney
from Houghton Mifflin
for 2nd-4th grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$7.99
Discovery of the Americas
by Betsy & Giulio Maestro
from HarperTrophy
for 3rd-6th grade
in Age of Exploration (1450-1700) (Location: HISA-16EXP)
$9.99
Down the Big River
Purple House Living History Library
by Stephen W. Meader, illustrated by Edward Shenton
from Purple House Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$10.99
Draw 50 Boats, Ships, Trucks, and Trains
by Lee Ames
from Watson-Guptill Publications
for 3rd-8th grade
in Draw 50 (Location: ELE-ARTD50)
$9.99
Draw Write Now Book 3
by Marie Hablitzel & Kim Stitzer
from In the Think of Things
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
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$19.99
Drinking Gourd
An I Can Read Book Level 3
by F. N. Monjo
from HarperCollins
Historical Fiction for 2nd-4th grade
in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR)
$4.99
Early American Crafts & Occupations - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Peter Copeland
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
in History of America Coloring Books (Location: COL-HISA)
$4.99
Early American History for Primary Grades - Guide
by Rea Berg
3rd edition from Beautiful Feet Books
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Beautiful Feet Books (Location: HISCUR-BFB)
$29.95
Early American Trades - Coloring Book
Dover Coloring Books
by Peter F. Copeland
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
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$5.99
Echo Mountain
by Lauren Wolk
from Dutton Children's Books
for 3rd-6th grade
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$8.99
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