From American Heritage, Thomas Fleming on American Politics at Ten Paces: Strict codes of conduct marked the relationships of early American politicians, often leading to duels, brawls, and other — sometimes fatal — violence. Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: How did these words become the most important in the Declaration of Independence? The answer starts with a small band of motivated Americans. A review of The Forgotten Founding Father: Noah Webster's Obsession and the Creation of an American Culture by Joshua Kendall. Uncle Tom's Cabin changed the world, but is it worth reading now?: A review of Mightier than the Sword: Uncle Tom's Cabin and the Battle for America by David Reynolds. From NYRB, a review of books on the Civil War. Mark Thomas speaks to historian James McPherson about the US Civil War as a turning point in US history. A review of A World on Fire: Britain's Crucial Role in the American Civil War by Amanda Foreman (and more). This Land Is Our Land: How a 19th-century law that "allotted" reservation lands led to the federal government’s largest-ever lawsuit settlement. A review of Railroaded: The Transcontinentals and the Making of Modern America by Richard White. A review of Dreaming of Dixie: How the South Was Created in American Popular Culture by Karen L. Cox. More on Age of Fracture by Daniel Rodgers. A review of The Big Roads: The Untold Story of the Engineers, Visionaries, and Trailblazers Who Created the American Superhighways by Earl Swift. The case against "American exceptionalism": Americans have always been proud of their republic — but not too proud to learn from others. When did America begin its "decadent" decline? 4 theories. Paul Monk on the looming reality of American decline. American history, fixed: Exposing some of pop culture’s most egregious historical errors.
