This text provides students and instructors with an account of the American past in which no single approach or theme predominates. The text has included an account of American political and diplomatic history. Today, however, the book explores areas of history such as social, cultural, urban, racial and ethnic history, more history of the West and South, environmental history, and the history of women and gender. In addition, American history has not evolved in a vacuum, but as part of a larger global world. This text places American history into that global context, making connections for students who live in an ever-expanding world themselves.