From These Beginnings looks at history through engaging biographical portraits of well-known men and women whose contributions helped to create the nation and society.

Each biography offers a uniquely personal and provocative glimpse into the lives of these Americans and shows how their experiences are linked to historical events, covering everything from the environment to popular culture. From These Beginnings can be used as a stand-alone core text, or as a wonderful supplement to any U.S. History survey course, inviting students to see history not as a collection of names and dates, but as an evolving tale about people like themselves.