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Robert Brooks, Tyler Junior College
Dale Carnagey, Blinn College
Carrie Coston, Blinn College
Shannon Cross, Tyler Junior College
Alan Harazin, Holyoke Community College
Billy Hathorn, Laredo Community College
Peter Jones, Tyler Junior College
Gene Kirkpatrick, Tyler Junior College
Martha Kline, Blinn College
Alan Lehman, Blinn College
Jan McCauley, Tyler Junior College
Nora McMillan, San Antonio College
Horacio Salinas, Jr., Laredo Community College
Malcolm Saunders, University of the South Pacific
Kenneth McCullough, Blinn College
Jeff Owens, Tyler Junior College
Kahne Parsons, Tyler Junior College
Madeleine Ross, Tyler Junior College
James R. Sisson, Central Texas College
Herbert Sloan, Barnard College
Isaac Solis, Navarro College
Brian Steele, University of Alabama at
Birmingham
Quentin Taylor, Rogers State University
Tracy Teslow, University of Cincinnati
Hubert P. van Tuyll, Augusta State University
Larry Watson, Blinn College
Stan Watson, Tyler Junior College
Don Whatley, Blinn College
Geoffrey Willbanks, Tyler Junior College
And I thank the families of the American heroes, fea-
tured in Chapter 32, for sharing the stories of their
children who served and died in the wars in
Afghanistan and Iraq.Mark C. Carnes
Barnard College, Columbia UniversityI thank the many friends, colleagues, and students
who have helped me in writing this edition of The
American Nation. My debt to John A. Garraty—
teacher, colleague, co-author—warrants many para-
graphs of acknowledgment. But his scorn for
wordiness obliges me to acknowledge that he taught
me the art of writing.
Mary Elin Korchinsky has lived this book (and
nearly everything else) with me. My journey with
her is a joy. For this edition, our particular challenge
has been to relate the American nation’s past to col-
lege students today. Much of the creativity in the
chapters that follow—“Do you vote for American
Idol?” “Do you illegally download?” “Do you space
out during political debates?”—was a product of her
special genius.
My daughter, Stephanie, read the book carefully
and critically; her comments have proven invaluable.
My goal of connecting with younger readers was
surely influenced by her own immense capacity for
sharing love with her parents. The dedication of this
book is an acknowledgment of that special gift.
I especially thank E. Ward Smith for guidance
through the murky depths of modern banking and
finance. And I thank Prakhar Sharma for similarly
leading me through the shrouded landscape of con-
temporary Iraq and Afghanistan.
Modern publishing, too, is a world of labyrinthine
complexity. I thank the expert team at Pearson for shar-
ing their mastery of its many arcane and demanding arts:
Yolanda de Rooy, Roberta Meyer, Craig Campanella,
Ed Parsons, Debra Wechsler, Mirella Signoretto, Maria
Lange, Marisa Taylor, Brandy Dawson, Maureen Prado
Roberts, and Alex Rabinowitz. Although they left me
plenty of thread to find my way out, they also showed
good sense in sometimes getting behind me and push-
ing. For that, and everything else, I am grateful.
I also thank:
Armando C. Alonzo, Texas A & M University
Andrew Bagley, Phillips Community College
Mary E. Barnes, Blinn College
Mack Bean, Blinn College
Thomas Born, Blinn College