The History of the United States: A Christian Perspective: Fifth Edition Hardcover – March 7, 2026

*The Fifth Edition was revised and updated significantly in June 2025* Dr. Robert Spinney, a Professor of History at Patrick Henry College (Purcellville, Virginia), wrote this textbook for his freshman- and sophomore-level American history classes at PHC. The textbook covers the entirety of American history from the 1400s to 2025. It reflects Spinney's belief that understanding history’s broad concepts is more important than mastering its minute details. Consequently, it focuses on trends, themes, worldviews, explanations, and causal relationships. The textbook also reflects Spinney’s understanding of what it means to do history as a Christian, and Christian perspectives are explicit. Numerous pictures, charts, and graphs supplement the text. Spinney has taught at Patrick Henry College since 2004 and previously taught at Trinity International University (Deerfield, IL). He holds an A.B. from Harvard (Government and History) and a M.A. and Ph.D. from Vanderbilt (History). He has published urban biographies that recount the histories of Chicago, Illinois, and Nashville, Tennessee. Read more