The National Experience

This volume deals with the crucial period of American history from the Revolution to the Civil War. As with the first volume 'The Colonial Experience' Dr Boorstin interprets American civilisation in an unconventional way looking at what have been its peculiar virtues and limitations.

Here we see the men who shaped, and were shaped by, the American experience - the versatile New Englanders; the Transients and the Boosters - the men and women who thrived on the principle of priority - the superior claim of those who got there first.