The history of the United States is a fascinating tale of intrigue, adventure, and progress, with many surprising twists and turns - and "Currents in American History" is designed to convey the defining elements of the story in an engaging, quick-paced narrative. Rather than covering a bit of everything, it focuses on the historic ramifications of 14 essential events that shaped the American past. Far shorter than most standard texts, this affordable work makes it possible for students to conceptualize America's complex history by assessing the causes and consequences of fourteen momentous days that changed the nation's course. "Currents in American History" includes an online Student Learning Center that provides access to primary sources, cause and effect exercises, self-study questions, and tools for organizing, printing, and exporting primary documents.