In this text, authors William J. Rorabaugh, Donald T. Critchlow, and Paula Baker effectively blend political, social and cultural history to present a balanced portrait of America's past. Designed to emphasize major themes and events, the work also captures the rich and often amusing character of the American people. Extensively revised and expanded from America: A Concise History (Rorabaugh and Critchlow), America's Promise is a succinct, highly readable introduction to American history.

Chapter 1: A Big Country Chapter 2: The Plantation South, 1607-1771 Chapter 3: Religious New England, 1620-1760 Chapter 4: The Diverse Middle Colonies, 1624-1760 Chapter 5: The American Revolution, 1750-1783 Chapter 6: The New Nation, 1783-1800 Chapter 7: Thomas Jefferson's America, 1801-1829 Chapter 8: The Market Revolution, 1790-1850 Chapter 9: Evangelical Religion and Reform, 1790-1850 Chapter 10: Andrew Jackson and the West Chapter 11: The Problem of Slavery Chapter 12: Americans at Mid-century: Unbounded Optimism Chapter 13: The Sectional Crisis, 1852-1861 Chapter 14: Civil War, 1861-1865 Chapter 15: Reconstruction, 1863-1877 Appendix I: The Declaration of Independence Appendix II: The Constitution of the United States of America Appendix III: U.S. Population Characteristics Appendix IV: Population for Selected Large Cities Appendix V: Presidential Elections Appendix VI: Chronology Glossary