This textbook introduces undergraduate and advanced undergraduate students to the economic foundations of America. Providing a rigorous yet accessible exploration of American Economic History from pre-Columbian times up to 1914, it explains the economic and demographic nuances of colonial America, including the Spanish, French, and English colonies and how they were governed.

The book presents the details of the controversy between the English colonists and the English Parliament. It further features the impact of slavery, the Revolutionary and Civil War eras, and it includes extensive economic analysis of the post Civil War nation up to 1914.

Based on the author's lectures, the book allows an easy understanding of the economic evolution from the earliest Americans to World War I. Instructors can customize their curriculum by supplementing this fundamental text with additional readings, offering flexibility while ensuring a solid knowledge of the economic aspects of American history.