The Brief American Pageant retains the vivid chronological narrative of its full-length counterpart, focusing on the great public debates that have dominated American history. Engaging features draw students into the narrative, improving comprehension and increasing their interest in the material. "Varying Viewpoints" features explore the scholarly debates surrounding major historical issues, while "Makers of America" essays focus on the diverse ethnic, racial, and activist groups that compose America's pluralistic society. The authors reduced the total number of chapters to 42 by combining several chapters and streamlining material. The reorganization tightens the book's chronology and highlights a thematic update of the antebellum and Gilded Age/Progressive era periods. The authors integrated more coverage of hot research topics, including immigration, women's political participation, the environmental movement, American Indians, and western history. Throughout the text, social topics are thoroughly integrated into the political narrative. David Kennedy and Lizabeth Cohen, two of America's most prominent historians, bring the book's scholarship up to date while preserving the trademark writing style of late author Thomas Bailey. Mel Piehl, an experienced abridging editor, carefully prunes the manuscript, rewriting passages to reduce detail while preserving the successful approach of the full-length book.