Challenging the Myths of US History

According to most textbooks, the American story is characterized by “liberty” and “freedom” and progress toward a “more perfect union.” In these 7 essays, Marc Egnal challenges that account, and argues that upper-class individuals, set on territorial and economic expansion, shaped the course of US history.

More By Marc Egnal:

Marc Egnal: Clash of Extremes
Marc Egnal: A Mighty Empire
Marc Egnal: Divergent Paths
Marc Egnal: New World Economies

About Marc Egnal

Marc Egnal is an American historian, who was born in Philadelphia, received his B.A. from Swarthmore College, and completed his doctorate at the University of Wisconsin.

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Praise for Challenging the Myths of US History


“Timely as well as trenchant. This work is sure to be read as an antidote to the current contentious political climate and as an enduring contribution for years to come.”
– Roger Lowenstein, author of Ways and Means: Lincoln and His Cabinet and the Financing of the Civil War


“In clear, accessible prose, noted scholar Marc Egnal challenges enduring myths about major US historical events. Provocative, incisive, and informative, Egnal shows why knowledge of the American past is more important than ever in understanding the country’s present crisis.”

– Rosemarie Zagarri, author of Revolutionary Backlash: Women and Politics in the Early American Republic


“Egnal does American history right: by engaging the reader in a knockabout argument on leading issues in the field. From the American Revolution to the rise of Trump, every essay is well-documented, forcefully argued, and packs a punch. Reader, expect to be provoked!”
– Gavin Wright, author of Sharing the Prize: The Economics of the Civil Rights Revolution in the American South


“Egnal is one of the truly wise, long-distance runners and deep thinkers of the history profession. This latest book will provoke readers to think hard, question their own preconceptions, and with luck come to their own conclusions.”

– Paul Buhle, authorized biographer of C. L. R. James

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A conversation with Marc Egnal

Marc Egnal discusses his new book “A Mirror for History”.