The acclaimed multi-volume history of the United States

Praised as ‘the most distinguished series in American historical scholarship’, The Oxford History of the United States offers an unsurpassed narrative of the history of the nation. Conceived under the general editorship of C. Vann Woodward and Richard Hofstadter, and now under the editorship of David M. Kennedy, this renowned series blends social, political, economic, cultural, diplomatic, and military history into coherent and vividly written narratives. This 4-volume set – specially produced for Folio members – chronicles the first tumultuous century, from the birth of the republic to the end of the Civil War.

The Glorious Cause - The American Revolution, 1763-1789

Beginning with the French and Indian War and continuing to the election of George Washington as first president, Robert Middlekauff offers a panoramic history of the conflict between England and America, highlighting the drama and anguish of the colonial struggle for independence. Combining the political and the personal, he provides a compelling account of the key events that precipitated the war, from the Stamp Act to the Tea Act, tracing the gradual gathering of American resistance that culminated in the Boston Tea Party and ‘the shot heard round the world’.

At the heart of the book is a vivid description of the eight-year-long war, from Bunker Hill to the final triumph at Yorktown, paying particular attention to what made men fight in these bloody encounters. The narrative concludes with an insightful look at the making of the Constitution in the Philadelphia Convention of 1787. With fresh coverage of topics such as mob reactions to British measures before the War, women’s roles in the Revolution, American Indians and the ratification of the Constitution, this is a glorious account of an event that changed the world.

Empire of Liberty - A History of the Early Republic, 1789-1815

Gordon S. Wood offers a brilliant account of the early republic, from the beginning of the national government to the end of the War of 1812. As Wood reveals, the period was marked by tumultuous change in all aspects of American life – in politics, society, economy, and culture. The men who founded the new government had high hopes for the future, but few of their hopes and dreams worked out quite as they expected.

Many leaders expected American culture to flourish and surpass that of Europe; instead it became popularised and vulgarised. They also hoped to see the end of slavery; instead, despite the release of many slaves and the end of slavery in the North, slavery was stronger in 1815 than it had been in 1789. The country also became involved in European conflicts and ended up waging another war with the former mother country. Nonetheless, with a new generation emerging by 1815, most Americans were confident and optimistic about the future of their country. Empire of Liberty offers a marvellous account of this pivotal era.

What Hath God Wrought - The Transformation of America, 1815-1848

In this Pulitzer Prize-winning addition to the series, historian Daniel Walker Howe illuminates the period from the battle of New Orleans to the end of the Mexican - American War, an era when the United States expanded to the Pacific and won control over the richest part of the North American continent.

Howe’s panoramic narrative reveals how the rapid spread of railroads, canals, newspapers and the telegraph accelerated the extension of the American empire. These innovations prompted the emergence of mass political parties and stimulated America’s economic development from an overwhelmingly rural country to a diversified economy in which commerce and industry took their place alongside agriculture. He also reveals the power of religion to shape many aspects of American life during this period, from slavery to women’s rights and other reform movements. Howe’s story of American expansion culminates in the bitterly controversial but brilliantly executed war waged against Mexico that brought California and Texas into the nation.

Battle Cry of Freedom - The Civil War Era, 1848-1865

The Pulitzer Prize-winning Battle Cry of Freedom is without question the definitive one volume history of the Civil War. James McPherson assesses the political, social, and military events that crowded the two decades from the outbreak of one war in Mexico to the ending of another at Appomattox. From the events that preceded the war to the key battles and strategic manoeuvres of the war itself, the politics and personalities that dominated both sides of the conflict are vividly drawn.

Particularly notable are McPherson’s views on such matters as the slavery expansion issue in the 1850s, the origins of the Republican Party, the causes of secession, internal dissent and anti-war sentiment in the North and the South, and the reasons for the Union’s victory. The book’s title refers to the opinions that informed both the Northern and Southern views of the conflict. This authoritative volume makes sense of that vast and confusing ‘second American Revolution’ – a conflict that transformed a nation.