History of the United States

Ridpath, John Clark, 1840-1900Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

Rating 3.4

Word count: 670K words
Chapters: 68

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.History of the United States by John Clark RidpathAuthor: Ridpath, John Clark, 1840-1900,Language: English, Class: E151: History: America: United States, Release Date: Sep 9, 2016

Editor's review

This history of the United States by John Clark Ridpath is a representative work of popular historical writing from the late nineteenth century. It moves from colonial settlement to the nation's expansion in the later nineteenth century, with a coherent narrative and clear lines of development; it skillfully links people and events to institutional change, making for a story-driven read rather than a dry chronicle. As a free eBook from Project Gutenberg, its greatest value lies in its easy availability and complete text, making it a suitable introductory work for understanding the narrative tradition of American history. Note that the author carries the positions and limitations of his era, and his treatment of issues such as Native Americans and slavery requires the reader's own critical judgment. It is best read as a source-based popular narrative alongside contemporary historical scholarship, so that one can see both the skeleton of historical fact and the mark of the times on historical writing itself.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers who want Chinese-language support in understanding the trajectory of American history
Students who need an English popular history text for reading practice
History enthusiasts interested in the narrative tradition of American historiography
Self-learners who want free access to a complete public-domain history book

Not a good fit for

Specialist researchers seeking cutting-edge contemporary scholarship and the latest research findings
Readers who want diverse perspectives and a critical historical viewpoint
Research writers who need precise citations and source references

Reading tips

Start by reading the table of contents to map out the timeline, then choose chapters of interest for close reading rather than pushing straight through from the beginning.
Mark passages with era-biased judgments as you read, and reflect on them afterward.
Read alongside a contemporary general history of the United States and compare the narratives.
The English original is long; set a fixed number of pages per day to keep a steady pace.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book suitable for readers with a basic level of English?

The text is late nineteenth-century English, with long sentences and rather classical wording, so it is difficult for readers with only a basic command of English. It is advisable to first read a Chinese history of the United States to build a framework, then use dictionary tools to read selected chapters, or read alongside a translation, gradually adapting to the style.

Are the facts and views in the book still credible today?

The basic factual framework is largely usable for reference, but the author carries the positions of the nineteenth century, and his accounts of issues such as Native Americans, race, and expansion require careful critical reading. It is best treated as a sample of older historical writing and compared with contemporary scholarship, not relied on alone as a factual authority.

Is this the Chinese version or the English version?

According to the information, this is an English-language eBook released by Project Gutenberg, in English and classified under United States history. Although the title is History of the United States, the text is not in Chinese, and readers need some English reading ability.

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About the author

Ridpath, John Clark, 1840-1900 Author

John Clark Ridpath (1840–1900) was an American writer of history whose biographical details and exact dates are limited in publicly available sources; four of his works are held in this collection. Judging from his surviving books, he devoted himself mainly to popular narrative accounts of American history and political figures. His representative works include History of the United States, Campfire and Battlefield, and biographical writings on James Otis and President James A. Garfield. Aimed at general readers, his writing emphasizes the coherent unfolding of historical events and the telling of personal deeds, combining popularization with documentary narration. These works are somewhat representative of late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century popular American historical writing and offer a reference point for understanding the historical writing style of that era.