Author Description

American history is usually studied within a nationalistic framework, with the independence and expansion of the United States defining the subject. This has led to distortions of perspective (eg the religious revivals of the mid-18th century being viewed as precursors of the American Revolution). As nation states increasingly recognize their interdependence, a different approach to the history of the United States is needed which demonstrates the interconnectedness of the United States with other countries. Such an approach benefits not only political, diplomatic, and military history, but social, economic and cultural history as well. This lecture provides examples of how American history could be better understood by placing it within this broader context.