In this comprehensive history of the United States, Frederick Butler offers a detailed account of the country's development from its colonial origins to the eve of the Civil War. Drawing on a wide range of primary and secondary sources, Butler provides a richly textured narrative that illuminates the social, economic, and political forces that shaped American history. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.