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U.S. History

From the first contact between the Americas and Europe to the challenges of the twenty-first century.

Course Resources

OpenStax Textbook

Free, peer-reviewed textbook from Rice University.

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Complete PDF used for generating these videos.

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YouTube Playlist

All video lectures in one convenient playlist.

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Chapter Lectures

Chapter 1: The Americas, Europe, and Africa Before 1492

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The Americas
1.1
The Americas
Pages 8-16
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Europe on the Brink of Change
1.2
Europe on the Brink of Change
Pages 17-22
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West Africa and the Role of Slavery
1.3
West Africa and the Role of Slavery
Pages 23-27
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Chapter 2: Early Globalization: The Atlantic World, 1492-1650

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Portuguese Exploration and Spanish Conquest
2.1
Portuguese Exploration and Spanish Conquest
Pages 32-38
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Religious Upheavals in the Developing Atlantic World
2.2
Religious Upheavals in the Developing Atlantic World
Pages 39-41
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Challenges to Spain's Supremacy
2.3
Challenges to Spain's Supremacy
Pages 42-46
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New Worlds Labor, Commerce, & Columbian Exchange
2.4
New Worlds Labor, Commerce, & Columbian Exchange
Pages 47-52
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Chapter 3: Creating New Social Orders: Colonial Societies, 1500-1700

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Spanish Exploration and Colonial Society
3.1
Spanish Exploration and Colonial Society
Pages 58-59
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Colonial Rivalries Dutch and French Colonial Ambitions
3.2
Colonial Rivalries Dutch and French Colonial Ambitions
Pages 60-63
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English Settlements in America
3.3
English Settlements in America
Pages 64-75
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The Impact of Colonization
3.4
The Impact of Colonization
Pages 76-81
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Chapter 4: Rule Britannia! The English Empire, 1660-1763

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Charles II and the Restoration Colonies
4.1
Charles II and the Restoration Colonies
Pages 86-91
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The Glorious Revolution and the English Empire
4.2
The Glorious Revolution and the English Empire
Pages 92-94
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An Empire of Slavery and the Consumer Revolution
4.3
An Empire of Slavery and the Consumer Revolution
Pages 95-98
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Great Awakening and Enlightenment
4.4
Great Awakening and Enlightenment
Pages 99-102
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Wars for Empire
4.5
Wars for Empire
Pages 103-106
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Chapter 5: Imperial Reforms and Colonial Protests, 1763-1774

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National Debt After the French & Indian War
5.1
National Debt After the French & Indian War
Pages 112-115
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The Stamp Act and the Sons and Daughters of Liberty
5.2
The Stamp Act and the Sons and Daughters of Liberty
Pages 116-121
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The Townshend Acts and Colonial Protest
5.3
The Townshend Acts and Colonial Protest
Pages 122-127
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The Destruction of the Tea and the Coercive Acts
5.4
The Destruction of the Tea and the Coercive Acts
Pages 128-130
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Disaffection First Continental Congress & Identity
5.5
Disaffection First Continental Congress & Identity
Pages 131-133
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Chapter 6: America's War for Independence, 1775-1783

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Britain's Law and Order Strategy and Its Consequences
6.1
Britain's Law and Order Strategy and Its Consequences
Pages 140-145
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The Early Years of the Revolution
6.2
The Early Years of the Revolution
Pages 146-151
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War in the South
6.3
War in the South
Pages 152-154
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Identity during the American Revolution
6.4
Identity during the American Revolution
Pages 155-160
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Chapter 7: Creating Republican Governments, 1776-1790

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Common Sense From Monarchy to an American Republic
7.1
Common Sense From Monarchy to an American Republic
Pages 166-168
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How Much Revolutionary Change
7.2
How Much Revolutionary Change
Pages 169-175
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Debating Democracy
7.3
Debating Democracy
Pages 176-181
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The Constitutional Convention and Federal Constitution
7.4
The Constitutional Convention and Federal Constitution
Pages 182-188
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Chapter 8: Growing Pains: The New Republic, 1790-1820

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Competing Visions Federalists & Dem Republicans
8.1
Competing Visions Federalists & Dem Republicans
Pages 194-199
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The New American Republic
8.2
The New American Republic
Pages 200-204
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Partisan Politics
8.3
Partisan Politics
Pages 205-211
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The United States Goes Back to War
8.4
The United States Goes Back to War
Pages 212-216
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Chapter 9: Industrial Transformation in the North, 1800-1850

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Early Industrialization in the Northeast
9.1
Early Industrialization in the Northeast
Pages 222-229
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A Vibrant Capitalist Republic
9.2
A Vibrant Capitalist Republic
Pages 230-235
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On the Move The Transportation Revolution
9.3
On the Move The Transportation Revolution
Pages 236-238
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A New Social Order Class Divisions
9.4
A New Social Order Class Divisions
Pages 239-243
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Chapter 10: Jacksonian Democracy, 1820-1840

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New Political Style Adams to Jackson
10.1
New Political Style Adams to Jackson
Pages 248-253
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The Rise of American Democracy
10.2
The Rise of American Democracy
Pages 254-255
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The Nullification Crisis and the Bank War
10.3
The Nullification Crisis and the Bank War
Pages 256-259
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Indian Removal
10.4
Indian Removal
Pages 260-265
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The Tyranny and Triumph of the Majority
10.5
The Tyranny and Triumph of the Majority
Pages 266-269
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Chapter 11: A Nation on the Move: Westward Expansion, 1800-1860

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Lewis and Clark
11.1
Lewis and Clark
Pages 276-281
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The Missouri Crisis
11.2
The Missouri Crisis
Pages 282-283
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Independence for Texas
11.3
Independence for Texas
Pages 284-287
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The Mexican American War, 1846 1848
11.4
The Mexican American War, 1846 1848
Pages 288-294
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Free or Slave Soil The Dilemma of the West
11.5
Free or Slave Soil The Dilemma of the West
Pages 295-298
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Chapter 12: Cotton is King: The Antebellum South, 1800-1860

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The Economics of Cotton
12.1
The Economics of Cotton
Pages 304-308
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African Americans in the Antebellum United States
12.2
African Americans in the Antebellum United States
Pages 309-316
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Wealth and Culture in the South
12.3
Wealth and Culture in the South
Pages 317-325
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The Filibuster and the Quest for New Slave States
12.4
The Filibuster and the Quest for New Slave States
Pages 326-328
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Chapter 13: Antebellum Idealism and Reform Impulses, 1820-1860

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An Awakening of Religion and Individualism
13.1
An Awakening of Religion and Individualism
Pages 333-339
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Antebellum Communal Experiments
13.2
Antebellum Communal Experiments
Pages 340-344
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Reforms to Human Health
13.3
Reforms to Human Health
Pages 345-347
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Addressing Slavery
13.4
Addressing Slavery
Pages 348-353
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Women's Rights
13.5
Women's Rights
Pages 354-356
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Chapter 14: Troubled Times: The Tumultuous 1850s

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The Compromise of 1850
14.1
The Compromise of 1850
Pages 362-369
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The Kansas Nebraska Act and the Republican Party
14.2
The Kansas Nebraska Act and the Republican Party
Pages 370-375
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The Dred Scott Decision and Sectional Strife
14.3
The Dred Scott Decision and Sectional Strife
Pages 376-378
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John Brown and the Election of 1860
14.4
John Brown and the Election of 1860
Pages 379-382
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Chapter 15: The Civil War, 1860-1865

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The Origins and Outbreak of the Civil War
15.1
The Origins and Outbreak of the Civil War
Pages 388-392
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Early Mobilization and War
15.2
Early Mobilization and War
Pages 393-396
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1863 The Changing Nature of the War
15.3
1863 The Changing Nature of the War
Pages 397-405
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The Union Triumphant
15.4
The Union Triumphant
Pages 406-411
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Chapter 16: The Era of Reconstruction, 1865-1877

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Restoring the Union
16.1
Restoring the Union
Pages 416-419
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Congress and the Remaking of the South, 1865 1866
16.2
Congress and the Remaking of the South, 1865 1866
Pages 420-423
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Radical Reconstruction, 1867 1872
16.3
Radical Reconstruction, 1867 1872
Pages 424-430
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The Collapse of Reconstruction
16.4
The Collapse of Reconstruction
Pages 431-438
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Chapter 17: Go West Young Man! Westward Expansion, 1840-1900

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The Westward Spirit
17.1
The Westward Spirit
Pages 444-448
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Homesteading Dreams and Realities
17.2
Homesteading Dreams and Realities
Pages 449-451
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Making a Living in Gold and Cattle
17.3
Making a Living in Gold and Cattle
Pages 452-456
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The Assault on American Indian Life and Culture
17.4
The Assault on American Indian Life and Culture
Pages 457-461
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Impact of Expansion on Chinese & Hispanic Citizens
17.5
Impact of Expansion on Chinese & Hispanic Citizens
Pages 462-465
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Chapter 18: Industrialization and the Rise of Big Business, 1870-1900

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Inventors of the Age
18.1
Inventors of the Age
Pages 472-476
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From Invention to Industrial Growth
18.2
From Invention to Industrial Growth
Pages 477-482
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Building Industrial America on the Backs of Labor
18.3
Building Industrial America on the Backs of Labor
Pages 483-491
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A New American Consumer Culture
18.4
A New American Consumer Culture
Pages 492-494
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Chapter 19: The Growing Pains of Urbanization, 1870-1900

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Urbanization and Its Challenges
19.1
Urbanization and Its Challenges
Pages 500-507
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African American Great Migration & Immigration
19.2
African American Great Migration & Immigration
Pages 508-511
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Relief from the Chaos of Urban Life
19.3
Relief from the Chaos of Urban Life
Pages 512-518
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Change Reflected in Thought and Writing
19.4
Change Reflected in Thought and Writing
Pages 519-524
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Chapter 20: Politics in the Gilded Age, 1870-1900

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Political Corruption in Postbellum America
20.1
Political Corruption in Postbellum America
Pages 530-535
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The Key Political Issues Patronage, Tariffs, and Gold
20.2
The Key Political Issues Patronage, Tariffs, and Gold
Pages 536-542
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Farmers Revolt in the Populist Era
20.3
Farmers Revolt in the Populist Era
Pages 543-546
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Social and Labor Unrest in the 1890s
20.4
Social and Labor Unrest in the 1890s
Pages 547-552
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Chapter 21: Leading the Way: The Progressive Movement, 1890-1920

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The Origins of the Progressive Spirit in America
21.1
The Origins of the Progressive Spirit in America
Pages 558-559
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Progressivism at the Grassroots Level
21.2
Progressivism at the Grassroots Level
Pages 560-566
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New Voices for Women and African Americans
21.3
New Voices for Women and African Americans
Pages 567-572
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Progressivism in the White House
21.4
Progressivism in the White House
Pages 573-582
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Chapter 22: Age of Empire: American Foreign Policy, 1890-1914

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Turner, Mahan, and the Roots of Empire
22.1
Turner, Mahan, and the Roots of Empire
Pages 588-593
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The Spanish American War and Overseas Empire
22.2
The Spanish American War and Overseas Empire
Pages 594-599
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Economic Imperialism in East Asia
22.3
Economic Imperialism in East Asia
Pages 600-601
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Roosevelt's Big Stick Foreign Policy
22.4
Roosevelt's Big Stick Foreign Policy
Pages 602-606
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Taft's Dollar Diplomacy
22.5
Taft's Dollar Diplomacy
Pages 607-608
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Chapter 23: Americans and the Great War, 1914-1919

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American Isolationism and the European Origins of War
23.1
American Isolationism and the European Origins of War
Pages 614-619
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The United States Prepares for War
23.2
The United States Prepares for War
Pages 620-624
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A New Home Front
23.3
A New Home Front
Pages 625-629
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From War to Peace
23.4
From War to Peace
Pages 630-634
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Demobilization and Its Difficult Aftermath
23.5
Demobilization and Its Difficult Aftermath
Pages 635-640
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Chapter 24: The Jazz Age: Redefining the Nation, 1919-1929

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Prosperity and the Production of Popular Entertainment
24.1
Prosperity and the Production of Popular Entertainment
Pages 646-650
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Transformation and Backlash
24.2
Transformation and Backlash
Pages 651-657
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A New Generation
24.3
A New Generation
Pages 658-663
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Republican Ascendancy Politics in the 1920s
24.4
Republican Ascendancy Politics in the 1920s
Pages 664-667
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Chapter 25: Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? The Great Depression, 1929-1932

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The Stock Market Crash of 1929
25.1
The Stock Market Crash of 1929
Pages 674-682
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President Hoover's Response
25.2
President Hoover's Response
Pages 683-687
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The Depths of the Great Depression
25.3
The Depths of the Great Depression
Pages 688-694
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Assessing the Hoover Years on the Eve of the New Deal
25.4
Assessing the Hoover Years on the Eve of the New Deal
Pages 695-698
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Chapter 26: Franklin Roosevelt and the New Deal, 1932-1941

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The Rise of Franklin Roosevelt
26.1
The Rise of Franklin Roosevelt
Pages 704-707
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The First New Deal
26.2
The First New Deal
Pages 708-716
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The Second New Deal
26.3
The Second New Deal
Pages 717-727
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Chapter 27: Fighting the Good Fight in World War II, 1941-1945

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Origins of War Europe, Asia, & US
27.1
Origins of War Europe, Asia, & US
Pages 732-737
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The Home Front
27.2
The Home Front
Pages 738-748
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Victory in the European Theater
27.3
Victory in the European Theater
Pages 749-752
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The Pacific Theater and the Atomic Bomb
27.4
The Pacific Theater and the Atomic Bomb
Pages 753-757
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Chapter 28: Post-War Prosperity and Cold War Fears, 1945-1960

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The Challenges of Peacetime
28.1
The Challenges of Peacetime
Pages 762-764
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The Cold War
28.2
The Cold War
Pages 765-771
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The American Dream
28.3
The American Dream
Pages 772-777
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Popular Culture and Mass Media
28.4
Popular Culture and Mass Media
Pages 778-780
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The African American Struggle for Civil Rights
28.5
The African American Struggle for Civil Rights
Pages 781-786
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Chapter 29: America in the 1960s

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The Kennedy Promise
29.1
The Kennedy Promise
Pages 792-798
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Lyndon Johnson and the Great Society
29.2
Lyndon Johnson and the Great Society
Pages 799-804
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The Civil Rights Movement Marches On
29.3
The Civil Rights Movement Marches On
Pages 805-812
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Challenging the Status Quo
29.4
Challenging the Status Quo
Pages 813-817
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Chapter 30: Political Storms at Home and Abroad, 1968-1980

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Identity Politics in a Fractured Society
30.1
Identity Politics in a Fractured Society
Pages 821-828
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Coming Apart, Coming Together
30.2
Coming Apart, Coming Together
Pages 829-834
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Vietnam The Downward Spiral
30.3
Vietnam The Downward Spiral
Pages 835-839
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Watergate Nixon's Domestic Nightmare
30.4
Watergate Nixon's Domestic Nightmare
Pages 840-844
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Jimmy Carter in the Aftermath of the Storm
30.5
Jimmy Carter in the Aftermath of the Storm
Pages 845-848
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Chapter 31: From Cold War to Culture Wars, 1980-2000

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The Reagan Revolution
31.1
The Reagan Revolution
Pages 854-857
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Political and Cultural Fusions
31.2
Political and Cultural Fusions
Pages 858-863
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A New World Order
31.3
A New World Order
Pages 864-869
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Bill Clinton and the New Economy
31.4
Bill Clinton and the New Economy
Pages 870-879
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Chapter 32: The Challenges of the Twenty-First Century

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The War on Terror
32.1
The War on Terror
Pages 884-889
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The Domestic Mission
32.2
The Domestic Mission
Pages 890-895
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New Century, Old Disputes
32.3
New Century, Old Disputes
Pages 896-900
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Hope and Change
32.4
Hope and Change
Pages 901-907
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Political Divides and Social Movements
32.5
Political Divides and Social Movements
Pages 908-911
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