Rethinking American History in a Global Age

Contributors include Thomas Bender, Charles Bright, Prasenjit Duara, Winfried Fluck, Michael Geyer, Dirk Hoerder, David A. Jollinger, Akira Iriye, Walter Johnson, Robin D.G. Kelley, Rob Kroes Karen Ordahl Kupperman, Ron Robin, Daniel T. Rodgers, Ian Tyrrell, Francois Weil, Robert Wiebe, and Marilyn B. Young. In rethinking and reframing the American national narrative in a wider context, the contributors to this volume ask questions about both nationalism and the discipline of history itself. The essays offer fresh ways of thinking about the traditional themes and periods of American history. By locating the study of American history in a transnational context, they examine the history of nation-making and the relation of the United States to other nations and to transnational developments. What is now called globalization is here placed in a historical context.

In rethinking and reframing the American national narrative in a wider context, the contributors to this volume ask questions about both nationalism and the discipline of history itself. The essays offer fresh ways of thinking about the traditional themes and periods of American history. By locating the study of American history in a transnational context, they examine the history of nation-making and the relation of the United States to other nations and to transnational developments. What is now called globalization is here placed in a historical context.
A cast of distinguished historians from the United States and abroad examines the historiographical implications of such a reframing and offers alternative interpretations of large questions of American history ranging from the era of European contact to democracy and reform, from environmental and economic development and migration experiences to issues of nationalism and identity. But the largest issue explored is basic to all histories: How does one understand, teach, and write a national history even as one recognizes that the territorial boundaries do not fully contain that history and that within that bounded territory the society is highly differentiated, marked by multiple solidarities and identities?
Rethinking American History in a Global Age advances an emerging but important conversation marked by divergent voices, many of which are represented here. The various essays explore big concepts and offer historical narratives that enrich the content and context of American history. The aim is to provide a history that more accurately reflects the dimensions of American experience and better connects the past with contemporary concerns for American identity, structures of power, and world presence.

Preface......Page 8 Introduction: Historians, the Nation, and the Plenitude of Narratives......Page 11 PART I: Historicizing the Nation......Page 33 1. Transnationalism and the Challenge to National Histories......Page 35 2. Internationalizing International History......Page 57 3. Where in the World Is America? The History of the United States in the Global Age......Page 73 PART II: New Historical Geographies and Temporalities......Page 111 4. International at the Creation: Early Modern American History......Page 113 5. How the West Was One: The African Diaspora and the Re-Mapping of U.S. History......Page 133 6. Time and Revolution in African America: Temporality and the History of Atlantic Slavery......Page 158 7. Beyond the View from Euro-America: Environment, Settler Societies, and the Internationalization of American History......Page 178 PART III: Opening the Frame......Page 203 8. From Euro- and Afro-Atlantic to Pacific Migration System: A Comparative Migration Approach to North American History......Page 205 9. Framing U.S. History Democracy, Nationalism, and Socialism......Page 246 10. An Age of Social Politics......Page 260 11. The Age of Global Power......Page 284 12. American Empire and Cultural Imperialism: A View from the Receiving End......Page 305 PART IV: The Constraints of Practice......Page 325 13. Do American Historical Narratives Travel?......Page 327 14. The Modernity of America and the Practice of Scholarship......Page 353 15. The Exhaustion of Enclosures A Critique of Internationalization......Page 377 16. The Historian’s Use of the United States and Vice Versa......Page 391 Appendix: Participants in the La Pietra Conferences, 1997–2000......Page 407 Contributors......Page 411 Index......Page 415 Transnationalism And The Challenge To National Histories / Prasenjit Duara -- Internationalizing International History / Akira Iriye -- Where In The World Is America? The History Of The United States In The Global Age / Charles Bright And Michael Geyer -- International At The Creation : Early Modern American History / Karen Ordahl Kupperman -- How The West Was One : The African Diaspora And The Re-mapping Of U.s. History / Robin D.g. Kelley -- Time And Revolution In African America : Temporality And The History Of Atlantic Slavery / Walter Johnson -- Beyond The View From Euro-america : Environment, Settler Societies, And The Internationalization Of American History / Ian Tyrrell -- From Euro- And Afro-atlantic To Pacific Migration System : A Comparative Migration Approach To North American History / Dirk Hoerder -- Framing U.s. History : Democracy, Nationalism, And Socialism / Robert Wiebe -- An Age Of Social Politics / Daniel T. Rodgers -- The Age Of Global Power / Marilyn B. Young -- American Empire And Cultural Imperialism : A View From The Receiving End / Rob Kroes -- Do American Historical Narratives Travel? / François Weil -- The Modernity Of America And The Practice Of Scholarship / Winfried Fluck -- The Exhaustion Of Enclosures : A Critique Of Internationalization / Ron Robin -- The Historian's Use Of The United States And Vice Versa / David A. Hollinger. Edited By Thomas Bender. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This volume asks questions about both nationalism and the discipline of history itself. The essays offer fresh ways of thinking about the traditional themes and periods of American history. The aim is to provide a history that more accurately reflects the dimensions of American experience.