It’s Election Day!

Let’s look at one of the many books on democracy in our Rare Book Collection: "A History of the United States of America" by Rev. Charles Goodrich.

The next book we are discussing in the rare book room is A History of the United States of America by Rev. Charles Goodrich. Originally written and published in 1822, this book served as one of the primary early American history textbooks and significantly contributed to the education and beliefs of the young nation.

Reverend Charles Goodrich was an American author and minister whose works shaped American education for almost three decades. In addition to this, his work shaped public perception around the founding of America and the Founding Fathers.

While A History of the United States of America is not considered accurate by modern historical standards due to inherent biases, its significance lies in showing us how American History was taught and understood during the Early Republic Era of American History. This book allows us to see into the past and gain an understanding of the beliefs of the American public while also showing how the teaching and understanding of history has evolved.

You can view the book online here: https://archive.org/details/historyofuniteds00ingood/page/n3/mode/2up

By Ben Erickson