A First Book in American History - 1889
8/13/24 (updated 12/4/25)A First Book in American History by Edward Eggleston is an introductory narrative history of the United States for younger readers, told through short biographical and story-like chapters rather than through dense political or constitutional exposition. It begins with the age of exploration (Columbus) and proceeds through major figures and episodes up to Abraham Lincoln, the Civil War, and the Spanish‑American War, emphasizing character, adventure, and everyday life rather than detailed analysis.Content and ScopeThe book is organized as a sequence of vivid sketches about “illustrious figures” such as Columbus, John Smith, Franklin, Washington, Jackson, Morse, and Lincoln, using their lives to introduce key periods and events in American history. Its coverage runs from European discovery and early exploration, through colonial settlement and revolution, into the 19th century, industrial advances, territorial expansion, the Civil War, and the emergence of the United States as a larger continental power.Pedagogical ApproachEggleston wrote it specifically as a school text for beginners, aiming to avoid “dry” textbook presentation by using story form, strong narrative episodes, and plenty of illustration. The book includes numerous pictures and “picture maps” or bird’s‑eye views to help children visualize geography and historical settings, and each chapter often ends with simple prompts or questions to encourage retelling and retention.Themes and EmphasesThe work stresses personal qualities such as courage, perseverance, ingenuity, and integrity, presenting historical actors as moral exemplars as well as subjects of historical interest. It also highlights domestic life, frontier conditions, conflicts with Native peoples, and technological change, aiming to give children a concrete sense of how people in earlier periods lived, traveled, worked, and fought.Source: Perplexity.ai--G. Ly keyword: histtext 19thcentury
