History of the United States

George Bancroft was an American historian, often called the "father of American history," known for his comprehensive 10-volume History of the United States. His work, published over 40 years, covered the origins and development of the U.S. from its colonial foundations through the struggle for independence. Bancroft emphasized the use of original sources and approached history with a philosophical, nationalistic perspective, viewing the American system as a pinnacle of human progress. While his early volumes were influenced by the political views of Andrew Jackson, his reputation as a leading historian was established by 1850. He was the first to recognize the significance of the colonial period, foreign relations, and the frontier in U.S. history.1

Hubert Howe Bancroft, a different historian, focused on the American West, collecting and publishing 39 volumes on its history and peoples. His extensive library, sold to the University of California, remains a valuable source for scholars of the Far West.2