Canfield, Leon H. and Wilder, Howard B.
The Making of Modern
America. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1964.
Although Chapter 11, “Changes Occur in American Economic Life,” is very thorough as a “facts tell it all” approach, the way the chapter is situated in the text indicates that the authors feel early industrialization is a preCivil War subset of sectional conflict and Westward expansion. This text should be used with highly interested eighth-graders who have a high reading level.
Dawson, George G. and Prehn, Edward C.
Teaching Economics in American History
. n.p. Joint Council on Economic Education, 1973.
This is a detailed economic approach to teaching of U.S. History. Readings, discussion questions, and suggested activities emphasizing key economic concepts. The booklet contains useful bibliography.
Frizzle, Donald and Kownslar, Allan.
Discovering American History
. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston 1970.
This is a text combining primary sources with illustrations and graphs. It is probably more useful in high school classes. If used at a lower level, prior discussion and previewing material is necessary.
Graff, Henry F.
The Free and the Brave: The Story of the American People
. Chicago: Rand McNally and Company, 1968.
Basic information is available in this text but Graff deals with pre-Civil War industrial growth in purely a chronological context of U.S. History. Chapter 14, “Growing Pains of the Young Republic,” begins with the Battle of Detroit and ends with the inauguration of Jackson. Growth of industries is explained in as much detail as the admission of Missouri as a state. Relationship of bold faced headings to details below is poor.
Heilbroner, Robert L.
The Development of American Economic Life
. Foundations in Social Studies Series. New York: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1978.
For early industrial period, the author concentrates on influence of Hamilton, developing transportation system, and the Lowell Mills. He integrates facts, short readings, and valuable charts and graphs.
Hoyt, Joseph B.
The Connecticut Story
. New Haven: Readers Press, Inc., 1961.
Hoyt’s book is the closest thing to a text for middle school students. It treats the period of industrialization very well with efficient and easily comprehendible charts and illustrations.
Mills, Lewis Sprague.
The Story of Connecticut
. 5th ed. West Rindge, New Hampshire: Richard R. Smith Publishing Company, 1958.
Mills’ book is a distant second as a text to Hoyt’s.
The Story of Connecticut
would be of more value to a teacher interested in an overview of state history, rather than one concentrating on the use of manufacturing.
Sloan, Eric.
Diary of an Early American Boy: Noah Blake 1805
. New York: Wilfred Funk, Inc., 1962.
Superb work for project-oriented, hands-on approaches. This is a great ideas book. It is especially appropriate for the development of the mill system in its explanation and excellent illustration of an overshot water wheel on page 50.
Van Dusen, Albert E.
Connecticut
. New York: Random House,
1961.
A very complete text on Connecticut that could be used in certain circumstances with some students. At middle school level, it would be utilized as a research source or in individual work.
Wilder, Howard B., et al. 4th ed.
This is America’s Story
. Boston, Houghton Mifflin Company; 1975.
This is the best middle school textbook for heterogeneously grouped students. Chapters 13, 14, 15 are very readable and well organized. Many ideas viewed from a single citizen’s perspective.