American History: Observations & Assessments from Early Settlement to Today, High School Level

My son & I are using this book in our homeschool American History studies. He finds it interesting. I like the thoughtful essay prompts at the end of each lesson. It focuses on history from a Christian perspective and doesn't glaze over the bad or rewrite it (like some public school textbooks). It also offers websites to research the info, view historical documents, maps, etc., to help supplement the lesson. It's simple and straight-forward, which we both appreciate.

In having to supplement my sons’ social studies requirements for high school, I decided to purchase this book as a review on US History (that they did a complete course in 8th grade). This is being marketed for students from 9th - 12th grades, so I accept the fact that it’s written to a wider age group. What’s more difficult to accept is how inconsistent the material is presented. Where one topic of interest is presented in great detail over many pages, another topic or entire period in history is glossed over in a single page.My biggest peeve with the “Reader’s Digest” presentation is the lack of historical context or definition of terms. For example, in the lesson about Clarence Darrow, it would have been helpful to elaborate about “free silver” and the circumstances surrounding its support. Stobaugh was content to just mention it in passing, as though high school students approaching this subject for the first time would know what he’s writing about. As an educator, he should know better.Also, his continual trumpeting of homeschooling throughout the book is tiresome. He doesn’t need to waste space in the text to sell his readers on the merits of homeschooling - we’re doing it already.As a history textbook, “American History” is only OK, and even then as a supplemental text. Far superior are “The Story of US” by Joy Hakim and “The Landmark History of the American People” by Daniel J Boorstin.

As a political moderate, I wanted a homeschool book that was straightforward with facts and not a bunch of right-wing histrionics. This was recommended by a friend of a friend. It is painful to read. Suggestions that the slaves were reluctantly going along with the system because they knew they were inferior? Seriously- are we living in the dark ages? Suggestions that the rights of LGBTQ are less important? I can't even bring myself to give this to Goodwill- someone might actually believe the conspiracy theories. So- expensive kindling will be the outcome, right after my daughter and I heavily critique the merits and discuss the ignorance of the author

We love Masterbooks History. It provides quick concise lessons for the student while still maintaining and providing accurate historical information. Masterbooks is taught from a Christian world view which is also a plus for our family.

I like the way this book is written, and they way it makes a student think about the "why" of the way things were done in the past.

If you want to learn about history this is not the book, If you want to debate it then it is the right one for you. Each section gives a brief review of an event or person then the student is asked to make and form an opinion. Example: Chapter 13 lesson 1 "The coming crisis: part 1" Assignment: was the conflict between the north and the south avoidable or unavoidable? Explain your answer. The teacher's book does give short essays answers to all the assignments as well as chapter tests/essays. Just wasn't what I wanted.

Depending on what you are using it for, you may need to supplement with some other sources. Teaches critical thinking and analysis.

Where was this book when I was in high school? History wasn't my favorite subject growing up, but I've developed a true fondness to it as I got older after doing my own reading and studying up on it. This text would have been a treasure to have when I was a teen, because it doesn't get any more engaging than this. I really appreciate that the basis of this course uses a Biblical worldview while teaching about the people and important events throughout American history.Teens will be begin the course by learning about the Natives of the New World, from there they will be taken on a journey to learn all about the birth of our nation including early colonists, patriotism, the abolishment of slavery, as well as the world power that the United States has now come to be. Major battles/wars (Revolutionary War, Civil War, etc.) and other significant events (creation of the U.S. Constitution, democracy, etc.) that helped change and mold the course of American history are all covered in this text. You are really getting the whole package with this course and what's more, the content is extremely engaging, which makes a subject that some may typically find boring, actually fun and exciting.Extra features in the book include a Forms of Government glossary, an American History glossary, a chart that shares comparative worldviews when it comes to religion and other cultures, as well as descriptions of the eight major worldviews (Naturalism, Theism, Realism, etc.). I personally appreciate that the revised version also goes all the way up to present day (even mentioning Present Trump and Covid-19), so it really is as up to date as you can get in a history textbook. In addition to the engaging content throughout each lesson, the book contains pages upon pages of beautiful photography and interesting stories to read. The lessons are very comprehensive, so teens are going to receive a well-rounded education in U.S. history upon completion of this course.