For survey courses in U.S. History. Written by a Pulitzer Prize winning author, this concise survey explores the many and varied threads of American historysocial, intellectual, cultural political, diplomatic, economic, and militaryfrom the arrival of the first native American inhabitants thousands of years ago through the crisis following the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington on September 11, 2001. Inclusive of all the diverse groups that are and have been part of the American fabric, it shows how the story of America is a human story revealing the imperfections, as well as the triumphs of human endeavor and the human spirit. Using a unique inquiry approach, each chapter is built around a specific question or theme designed to challenge students to consider the complexity of America's past.