Previous edition: 1970.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 551-620) and index.

The beginnings -- The awakening of American nationality -- A new kind of revolution -- To make a more perfect union -- The great experiment -- The American tragedy -- Bringing forth a new nation -- Dawn without noon -- Machines, men, and socialism -- Out of many, one -- Alabaster cities and amber waves of grain -- New world a-comin' -- The third American revolution -- The shaping of American families -- The making of a world power.

I. The beginnings. Capitalism came in the first ships ; Were the Puritans "Puritanical"? ; Rights of Englishmen ; Black people in a white people's country -- II. The awakening of American nationality. Country cousins ; Material foundations ; A poor man's country ; Not all colonials were Englishmen ; A paradise for women ; Americans have new rights ; "All of us Americans" -- III. A new kind of revolution. Causes were consequences ; New governments in old charters ; Revolutionaries can be conservative ; Conservatives can be innovators -- IV. To make a more perfect union. Agrarian imperialism ; More than sentiment ; The factory comes ; Does land make a people? -- V. The great experiment. "Let the people rule" ; "All men are created equal" ; Jacksonian liberalism ; On the road to Damascus -- VI. The American tragedy. The peculiar institution ; All slaves are black ; But all white people are not free ; The American dilemma -- VII. Bringing forth a new nation. A people's war ; A businessmen's government ; A nationalist's dream ; The twilight of the states ; A new world power -- VIII. Dawn without noon. Equality by force ; How black was black Reconstruction? ; Caste will out ; The South knows the Negro best -- IX. Machines, men, and socialism. Revolutionary challenge ; The industrial Leviathan ; The Reconstruction that took ; Dollars mean success ; The workers' response ; Nobody here but us capitalists -- X. Out of many, one. The widening stream ; Hewers of wood and drawers of water ; Immigrants have votes ; Melting pot or salad bowl? ; Who are Americans? -- XI. Alabaster cities and amber waves of grain. The lure of the city ; The seedtime of the city ; People make cities ; But cities also make people ; The hand that feeds is bitten ; The farmer comes of age ; The farmer as politician ; Standing Jefferson on his head -- XII. New world a-comin'. Jesus versus Ricardo ; Be it ever so small ; The new woman ; New politicians with old principles -- XIII. The third American revolution. "Hunger is not debatable" ; The end of laissez faire ; Revolution in politics ; Revolution in labor ; Was it a new or old deal? -- XIV. The shaping of American families. The modern family first emerges ; Not all families were happy ; Fighting fertility ; Below the white middle class ; The last adjustment -- XV. The making of a world power. A new diplomacy for a new era ; Looking outward ; The most fateful step ; The flight from commitment ; Challenge and response.