North America
An Introduction

Michael M. Brescia (Author), John C. Super (Author)

9780802096753

Paperback / softback, published 22 August 2008

256 pages
23 x 15.2 x 1.3 cm, 0.42 kg

How does one even begin to write a survey of the history of North America? Not only does any large unit of analysis contain local patterns that defy generalization, but there are also three strong 'exceptionalist' national historiographies to contend with. [...] However, the authors were not daunted, and neither was their Canadian publisher. The result is a good starting point for what may one day become a new trend in the teaching of history in three different countries. - The Canadian Historical Review

Historians have traditionally approached North America through the lens of the nation-state rather than from a continental perspective. While acknowledging that the geographic vastness and historical complexity of North America make it difficult to study as a whole, authors Michael Brescia and John Super build on the premise that the experiences of each country can be better understood when evaluated as a whole rather than as unique and discrete units. Employing a thematic approach, the authors investigate the North American past to explain the similarities and differences in the political, diplomatic, economic, social, and cultural experiences of Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Preface