Brief and affordable, yet careful not to sacrifice elements vital to student learning, America gives students and instructors everything they want -- and nothing they don't. The authors' own abridgement preserves the hallmark explanatory power of the parent text, helping students to understand not only what happened but why -- so they're never left wondering what's important. A unique seven-part narrative structure highlights the crucial turning points in American history and explores the dynamic forces shaping each period, facilitating students' understanding of continuity and change. The narrative is enriched and reinforced by vibrant full-color art and carefully crafted maps, which provide invaluable tools for student comprehension and enrichment. Two primary-source features in every chapter ensure that students understand historical events as they were viewed nationally and internationally. The result is a brief book that, in addition to being an excellent price, is an excellent value.