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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AIO Imagination Station Book #06
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AIO Imagination Station Book #09
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by Marianne Hering, Nancy I. Sanders
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AIO Imagination Station Book #22
by Marianne Hering & Sheila Seifert
from Focus on the Family
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$5.99
America's Paul Revere
by Esther Forbes
from Sandpiper Books
Biography for 2nd-6th grade
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$12.99
Angel Knew Papa and the Dog
by Douglas Kaine McKelvey
from Rabbit Room Press
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$12.99
Baseball Saved Us
by Ken Mochizuki
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$9.95
Captive Treasure
by Milly Howard
from Bob Jones University Press
Realistic Fiction for 2nd-5th grade
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$6.99
Children of the Dust Bowl
by Jerry Stanley
from Crown Publishers
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1993 NCTE Orbis Pictus Award
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$10.99
Choppers!
Step into Reading Level 4
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from Random House
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$5.99
Clearing Weather
by Cornelia Meigs
Repint from Dover Publications
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1929 Newbery Honor Book
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$8.99
Columbus Discovers America - Coloring Book
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from Dover Publications
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Crossing Bok Chitto
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Dust for Dinner
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Encounter
by Jane Yolen
1st edition from Voyager Paperbacks
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$8.99
Escape North!
Step into Reading Level 4
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Finding the Titanic
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First Flight
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First Thanksgiving
Step into Reading Level 3
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First Thanksgiving
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$7.99
Follow the Drinking Gourd
by Jeanette Winter
from Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.
Historical Fiction for 2nd-4th grade
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$7.99
Fourth of July Story
by Alice Dalgliesh
2nd edition from Aladdin Paperbacks
Historical Non-fiction for 2nd-4th grade
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$8.99
Freedom on the Menu
by Carole Boston Weatherford
Reprint from Puffin Books
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$6.99
Glorious Flight
by Martin & Alice Provensen
from Puffin Books
Historical Non-Fiction/Picture Books for 1st-3rd grade
1984 Caldecott Medal winner
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Hanna's Cold Winter
by Trish Marx & Barbara Knutson
from Purple House Press
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$11.95
How We Crossed the West
by Rosalyn Schanzer
Reprint from National Geographic
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$7.95
If You Were There When They Signed the Constitution
If You Were There
by Elizabeth Levy
from Scholastic Inc.
Non-Fiction for 2nd-5th grade
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If Your Name Was Changed at Ellis Island
If You Were There
by Ellen Levine & Wayne Parmenter
from Scholastic Inc.
Historical Non-Fiction for 2nd-5th grade
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Industrial Revolution
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from Nomad Press
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Jamestown
Adventures in Colonial America
by James Knight
from Beautiful Feet Books
Non-fiction for Kindergarten-3rd grade
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John Lincoln Clem: Civil War Drummer Boy
Based on a True Story
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Johnny Appleseed
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Just a Few Words, Mr. Lincoln
An All Aboard Reading Reader Level 4
by Jean Fritz
from Grosset & Dunlap
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$4.99
Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie
by Peter & Connie Roop
from Carolrhoda Books, Inc.
Historical Fiction for 1st-3rd grade
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Lewis & Clark
by Steven Kroll
from Holiday House
Historical Non-Fiction for 1st-4th grade
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Liberty!
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from Random House
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$8.99
Little Ships
by Louise Borden
from Aladdin Paperbacks
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Lotus Seed
by Sherry Garland
from HMH Books for Young Readers
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$7.99
Martin's Big Words
by Doreen Rappaport
Reprint from Hyperion Press
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2002 Caldecott Honor Book, NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Book, Coretta Scott King Award
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$8.99
Meet Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Mieko and the Fifth Treasure
by Eleanor Coerr
from Puffin Books
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$5.99
More Perfect Union
The American Story Series
by Betsy & Giulio Maestro
from HarperCollins
Historical Reference for 2nd-6th grade
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$11.99
My Book of Little House Paper Dolls
by Laura Ingalls Wilder
from HarperFestival
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$12.99
Paul Bunyan
by Steven Kellogg
from William Morrow & Company
Fairy Tales, Fables, and Legends for
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Pearl Harbor
Ready-to-Read Level 3
by Stephen Krensky
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$3.99
Penny for a Hundred
by Ethel Pochocki
from Bethlehem Books
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$9.95
People of the Breaking Day
by Marcia Sewall
from Aladdin Paperbacks
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in Native Americans (Location: HISA-19NAT)
$8.99
Picture Book of Davy Crockett
by David Adler
from Holiday House
Picture Book Biography for 2nd-4th grade
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$7.99
Picture Book of Sacagawea
by David A. Adler, illustrated by Dan Brown
from Holiday House
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$7.99
Pilgrim Stories
by Margaret Pumphrey
from Beautiful Feet Books
for 2nd-6th grade
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$11.95
Pilgrims of Plimoth
by Marcia Sewall
from Aladdin Paperbacks
History Reference/Picture Book for 1st-4th grade
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$8.99
Rain Player
by David Wisniewski
from Clarion Books
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$7.95
Ranch of the Golden Flowers
by Constance Lindsay Skinner
from Bethlehem Books
for 2nd-6th grade
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$15.95
Red, White, and Blue
An All Aboard Reading Reader Level 3
by John Herman
from Grosset & Dunlap
$4.99
Sky Boys
by Deborah Hopkinson
from Dragonfly Books
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$8.99
Squanto's Journey
by Joseph Bruchac
Reprint from HMH Books for Young Readers
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in Pilgrims at Plymouth (Location: HISA-17PIL)
$7.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
Star-Spangled Banner
by Peter Spier
from Yearling
American History for 2nd-6th grade
in Oversized History Books (Location: HISW-OVER)
$10.99
Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans
by Edward Eggleston
2nd edition from Memoria Press
Narrative History for 1st-4th grade
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$14.65
Stories of the Pilgrims
by Margaret Pumphrey
2nd edition from Christian Liberty Press
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$14.50 $8.00 (2 in stock)
Story of Christopher Columbus - Coloring Book
by Peter F. Copeland
from Dover Publications
for 2nd-6th grade
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$4.99
Story of Jumping Mouse
by John Steptoe
from HarperCollins
Native American Fable for Preschool-2nd grade
1985 Caldecott Honor Book
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$6.99
Story of Ruby Bridges
by Robert Coles, Illustrated by George Ford
Rep Anv Sp from Scholastic Inc.
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
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Story of the Statue of Liberty
by Betsy & Giulio Maestro
from William Morrow & Company
Historical Non-Fiction for 2nd-4th grade
in Immigration & Emigration (Location: HISA-20IM)
$7.99
Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt
by Deborah Hopkinson
1st edition from Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.
for Preschool- 3rd Grade
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$7.99
Thanksgiving Story
by Alice Dalgliesh
from Simon and Schuster
Historical Fiction for 1st-3rd grade
1955 Caldecott Honor Book
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$8.99 $5.50 (2 in stock)
They're Off!
by Cheryl Harness
from Aladdin Paperbacks
Historical Non-Fiction for 2nd-5th grade
in Pony Express (1860-1861) (Location: HISA-19PEX)
$7.99
Three Names
by Patricia MacLachlan
from HarperCollins
for 2nd-4th grade
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$7.99
Three Young Pilgrims
by Cheryl Harness
from Aladdin Paperbacks
Biography for 1st-4th grade
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$7.99 $4.00 (1 in stock)
Titanic Lost...and Found
Step into Reading Level 4
by Judy Donnelly, illustrated by Keith Kohler
from Random House
for 1st-4th grade
in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP)
$5.99
Train of States
by Peter Sis
Reprint from Greenwillow Books
for Preschool-3rd grade
in American History Reference (Location: HISA-REF)
$8.99
True Story of Pocahontas
A Step into Reading Book Level 3
by Lucille Recht Penner
from Random House
for 1st-3rd grade
in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP)
$5.99
U. S. History Cookbook
by Joan D'Amico and Karen Eich Drummond
from John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
for 1st-5th grade
in Cooking for Kids (Location: COOK-KID)
$16.00
U.S. Constitution and Fascinating Facts About It
by Terry L. Jordan
8th edition from Oak Hill Publishing
for 1st-3rd grade
in New Nation (1783-1800) (Location: HISA-18NN)
$3.95
Uncle Jed's Barbershop
by Margaree King Mitchell
from Aladdin Paperbacks
for 1st-3rd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$8.99 $5.00 (1 in stock)
USA Puzzle Fun!
from Dover Publications
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Dover Maze & Activity Books (Location: COL-MAZE)
$5.99
War Horse
by Michael Morpurgo
from Scholastic Press
for 2nd-6th grade
in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
$7.99
We the People
by Peter Spier
from Doubleday & Company
for 2nd-6th grade
in Government & Civics Resources (Location: GOV-REF)
$10.99
What Makes the Light Bright, Thomas Edison
by Melvin Berger
from Scholastic Inc.
for 2nd-3rd grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$4.99
What You Know First
by Patricia MacLachlan
from HarperCollins
for Nursery-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$6.99
Where Do You Think You're Going, Christopher Columbus?
by Jean Fritz
from Putnam Juvenile
for 2nd-4th grade
in Age of Exploration (1450-1700) (Location: HISA-16EXP)
$7.99
Who in the World was the Forgotten Explorer?
by Lorene Lambert & Jed Mickle
from Well-Trained Mind Press
Picture Book Biography for 1st-3rd grade
in Biographies (Location: BIO)
$9.50
Who's That Stepping on Plymouth Rock?
from PaperStar Books
in Pilgrims at Plymouth (Location: HISA-17PIL)
$6.99
Winter at Valley Forge
Adventures in Colonial America
by James Knight
from Beautiful Feet Books
Non-fiction for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in American Revolution (1765-1783) (Location: HISA-18REV)
$6.95 $4.00 (1 in stock)
Young Abe Lincoln
by Cheryl Harness
from National Geographic
Picture Book Biography for
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$7.95