Out Of Our Past: The Forces That Shaped Modern America by Carl N. Degler - Free PDF Download from Internet Archive

Degler Out Of Our Past PDF Download

If you are looking for a comprehensive and engaging history of the United States, you might want to check out Out Of Our Past, a classic work by Carl N. Degler. Degler was a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian who taught at Stanford University for many years. He wrote Out Of Our Past in 1959 as a synthesis of the forces that shaped modern America, from the colonial era to the early 20th century. The book has been revised and updated several times since then, but it remains a popular and influential text for students and general readers alike. In this article, we will give you a brief overview of the book and its main arguments, and show you how you can download a PDF version of it for free.

degler out of our past pdf download

Why Read Out Of Our Past?

Out Of Our Past is not a conventional chronological narrative of American history. Rather, it is a thematic and analytical exploration of the major trends and developments that shaped the nation's character and destiny. Degler argues that America's past is not a simple story of progress or decline, but a complex and dynamic process of change and continuity. He identifies three main forces that influenced this process: social movements, ideas, and external events. He shows how these forces interacted with each other and with the existing political, economic, and cultural structures to produce both continuity and change in American society.

Degler also emphasizes the diversity and pluralism of the American experience. He pays attention to the roles and perspectives of different groups and regions in the nation's history, such as women, African Americans, Native Americans, immigrants, the South, the West, and the urban centers. He shows how these groups and regions contributed to and challenged the dominant values and institutions of the nation. He also shows how they were affected by and responded to the major events and movements of their times.

Degler's approach is both informative and engaging. He combines factual details with interpretive insights to create a vivid and lively picture of America's past. He uses anecdotes, quotations, statistics, and illustrations to support his arguments and to capture the human dimension of history. He also invites the reader to think critically and creatively about the past, and to relate it to the present and the future. He raises questions, offers comparisons, suggests implications, and invites reflections throughout the book.

The Colonial Era

The first chapter of Out Of Our Past covers the origins and development of colonial America, from the early 17th century to the mid-18th century. Degler examines the motives and characteristics of the European settlers who came to America, and the challenges and opportunities they faced in the new land. He also analyzes the impact of colonialism on the native peoples, and the interactions between Europeans, Africans, and Indians in colonial society.

Degler argues that colonial America was not a homogeneous or static entity, but a diverse and dynamic one. He shows how different regions developed different economic, social, political, and cultural patterns, based on their geography, resources, population, religion, trade, and relations with Britain. He also shows how these patterns changed over time, as a result of internal growth, external conflicts, immigration, innovation, and adaptation.

The Revolution and the Constitution

The second chapter of Out Of Our Past covers the causes and consequences of the American Revolution and the creation of the Constitution, from the mid-18th century to the late 18th century. Degler examines the sources and nature of the colonial resistance to British rule, and the factors that led to the outbreak of war in 1775. He also analyzes the course and outcome of the war, and the challenges and achievements of the new nation in its quest for independence.

Degler argues that the American Revolution was not a simple or inevitable event, but a complex and contingent one. He shows how different groups had different interests and grievances in relation to Britain, and how they formed alliances or conflicts with each other during the revolutionary struggle. He also shows how different ideas influenced the revolutionaries' goals and actions, such as republicanism, liberalism, and nationalism.

Degler also argues that the American Revolution was not a complete or final event, but a continuous and unfinished one. He shows how the revolutionaries faced many problems and dilemmas in creating a new political system that would balance the needs and rights of the states and the people. He also shows how they devised a remarkable document, the Constitution, that established a federal republic with a separation of powers and a system of checks and balances.

The Early Republic

The third chapter of Out Of Our Past covers the challenges and achievements of the new nation in its first decades, from the late 18th century to the early 19th century. Degler examines the sources and nature of the political parties that emerged in the early republic, and the issues that divided them. He also analyzes the foreign policy dilemmas that faced the young nation in relation to Europe, and The Antebellum Period

The fourth chapter of Out Of Our Past covers the expansion and transformation of America in the first half of the 19th century. Degler examines the sources and nature of the westward movement that reshaped the nation's geography, population, and economy. He also analyzes the impact of the expansion on the native peoples, the environment, and the sectional balance.

Degler argues that the antebellum period was not a golden age of democracy and prosperity, but a turbulent era of change and conflict. He shows how different groups and regions experienced and responded to the expansion differently, depending on their interests, values, and visions. He also shows how the expansion created new opportunities and challenges for the nation's political, social, and cultural development.

The Market Revolution

The fifth chapter of Out Of Our Past covers the economic and social changes brought by industrialization and urbanization in antebellum America. Degler examines the sources and nature of the market revolution that transformed the nation's production, distribution, and consumption patterns. He also analyzes the impact of the market revolution on the labor force, the class structure, and the family system.

Degler argues that the market revolution was not a smooth or benign process, but a complex and disruptive one. He shows how different sectors and regions benefited or suffered from the market revolution differently, depending on their resources, skills, and connections. He also shows how the market revolution affected the lives and identities of different groups and individuals, such as farmers, workers, women, children, immigrants, and slaves.

The Reform Impulse

The sixth chapter of Out Of Our Past covers the various movements for social change and improvement in antebellum America. Degler examines the sources and nature of the reform impulse that motivated and mobilized many Americans to address the problems and injustices of their society. He also analyzes the impact of the reform impulse on the institutions and values of American culture.

Degler argues that the reform impulse was not a unified or coherent phenomenon, but a diverse and dynamic one. He shows how different reformers had different goals and methods, and how they cooperated or conflicted with each other. He also shows how different reforms influenced and challenged each other, such as abolitionism, feminism, temperance, education, religion, utopianism, and transcendentalism.

The Sectional Crisis

The seventh chapter of Out Of Our Past covers the growing tensions and conflicts between North and South over slavery and territorial issues in antebellum America. Degler examines the sources and nature of the sectional crisis that threatened to tear apart the nation's political and social fabric. He also analyzes the impact of the sectional crisis on the nation's identity and destiny.

Degler argues that the sectional crisis was not a sudden or inevitable event, but a gradual and avoidable one. He shows how different factors contributed to the sectional crisis, such as economic differences, political disputes, cultural clashes, moral debates, and violent incidents. He also shows how different attempts to resolve or contain the sectional crisis failed or backfired, such as compromises, laws, courts, parties, elections, and secession.

The Civil War and Reconstruction

The eighth chapter of Out Of Our Past covers the causes, course, and consequences of the Civil War and Reconstruction, from the mid-19th century to the late 19th century. Degler examines the sources and nature of the war that divided and reunited the nation, and the efforts and failures to rebuild and reconcile it after the war. He also analyzes the impact of the war and Reconstruction on the nation's economy, society, and culture.

Degler argues that the Civil War was not a simple or glorious event, but a complex and tragic one. He shows how different groups and regions had different motives and experiences in relation to the war, and how they suffered or gained from it. He also shows how different ideas influenced and changed the war's goals and outcomes, such as nationalism, democracy, and emancipation.

The War for Union

The ninth chapter of Out Of Our Past covers the military and political aspects of the Civil War. Degler examines the sources and nature of the war strategies and tactics of both sides, and the factors that determined the war's course and outcome. He also analyzes the impact of the war on the nation's political system and institutions, such as the presidency, the Congress, the courts, and the parties.

Degler argues that the war for union was not a predetermined or one-sided affair, but a contingent and balanced one. He shows how both sides had advantages and disadvantages in terms of resources, leadership, morale, and diplomacy. He also shows how both sides faced challenges and dilemmas in conducting and sustaining the war effort, such as mobilization, conscription, taxation, inflation, corruption, dissent, and civil liberties.

The War for Freedom

The tenth chapter of Out Of Our Past covers the social and cultural aspects of the Civil War, especially for African Americans. Degler examines the sources and nature of the war's impact on the lives and identities of different groups and individuals, such as soldiers, civilians, women, children, immigrants, and slaves. He also analyzes the impact of the war on the nation's social values and cultural expressions, such as religion, literature, art, music, and humor.

Degler argues that the war for freedom was not a secondary or incidental aspect of the Civil War, but a primary and essential one. He shows how the war transformed the status and role of African Americans in American society, from slavery to freedom, from property to citizenship, from passive to active agents. He also shows how the war influenced and challenged the attitudes and actions of white Americans toward black Americans, both in the North and in the South.

The Reconstruction Experiment

The eleventh chapter of Out Of Our Past covers the efforts and failures to rebuild and reunite the nation after the Civil War, from the late 19th century to the early 20th century. Degler examines the sources and nature of the Reconstruction policies and programs that aimed to restore and reform the South, and to protect and empower the freedmen. He also analyzes the impact of the Reconstruction on the nation's racial relations and regional balance.

Degler argues that the Reconstruction experiment was not a futile or malicious attempt to punish or exploit the South, but a noble and ambitious attempt to heal or improve it. He shows how different groups had different visions and interests in relation to Reconstruction, such as Republicans, Democrats, Radicals, Moderates, Conservatives, Liberals, Whites, Blacks, Northerners, and Southerners. He also shows how different factors undermined or ended Reconstruction, such as violence, corruption, resistance, compromise, apathy, and betrayal.

The Gilded Age and Progressive Era

The twelfth chapter of Out Of Our Past covers the rise of industrial capitalism and urban society in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Degler examines the sources and nature of the economic and social changes that transformed the nation's production, distribution, and consumption patterns. He also analyzes the impact of these changes on the nation's class structure, political system, and cultural values.

Degler argues that the Gilded Age and Progressive Era were not separate or contradictory periods, but interrelated and complementary ones. He shows how both periods reflected the opportunities and challenges of modernization in America. He also shows how both periods generated reactions and responses to modernization in America.

The Triumph of Business

The thirteenth chapter of Out Of Our Past covers the growth and consolidation of big business in America, and its impact on labor, consumers, and politics. Degler examines the sources and nature of the business innovations and strategies that enabled the emergence of corporations, trusts, and monopolies. He also analyzes the impact of big business on the working conditions, living standards, and political rights of workers, consumers, and citizens.

Degler argues that the triumph of business was not a natural or inevitable outcome of free enterprise, but a deliberate and contested outcome of corporate power. He shows how big business used various means to achieve its goals and interests, such as technology, finance, law, propaganda, and violence. He also shows how big business faced opposition and resistance from various groups and movements, such as labor unions, consumer advocates, populists, progressives, and socialists.

The Urban Frontier

The fourteenth chapter of Out Of Our Past covers the migration and immigration patterns that shaped urban America, and its social problems and cultural diversity. Degler examines the sources and nature of the population movements that fueled the growth of cities and suburbs. He also analyzes the impact of urbanization on the living conditions, social relations, and cultural expressions of urban dwellers.

Degler argues that the urban frontier was not a bleak or barren landscape of poverty and alienation, but a vibrant and dynamic landscape of opportunity and innovation. He shows how urbanization offered new chances and challenges for different groups and individuals, such as native-born Americans, European immigrants, African Americans, Asian Americans, women, children, and the elderly. He also shows how urbanization created new forms and styles of social interaction and cultural expression, such as ethnic neighborhoods, social clubs, political machines, mass media, popular entertainment, and high culture.

The Progressive Response

The fifteenth chapter of Out Of Our Past covers the reform movements and initiatives that challenged and changed various aspects of American society, economy, and government in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Degler examines the sources and nature of the progressive impulse that motivated and mobilized many Americans to address the problems and injustices of their times. He also analyzes the impact of the progressive impulse on the institutions and values of American culture.

Degler argues that the progressive response was not a single or coherent phenomenon, but a diverse and complex one. He shows how different progressives had different goals and methods, and how they cooperated or conflicted with each other. He also shows how different progressives influenced and challenged each other, such as muckrakers, social workers, feminists, conservationists, prohibitionists, educators, reformers, regulators, and activists.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Out Of Our Past is a fascinating and insightful book that explores the forces that shaped modern America. It covers the major themes and events of American history from the colonial era to the early 20th century, and analyzes their causes and consequences. It also emphasizes the diversity and pluralism of the American experience, and invites the reader to think critically and creatively about the past, present, and future. It is a book that will enrich your understanding and appreciation of America's past.

If you are interested in reading Out Of Our Past, you can download a PDF version of it for free from the Internet Archive. The Internet Archive is a non-profit organization that provides free access to millions of books, movies, music, and other digital materials. You can find Out Of Our Past by searching for its title or author on the Internet Archive website. You can also use this link to go directly to the book's page: https://archive.org/details/OutOfOurPast. From there, you can download the PDF file to your device or read it online.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about Out Of Our Past and their answers:

Who is Carl N. Degler?

• Carl N. Degler was a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian who taught at Stanford University for many years. He was born in 1921 in New Jersey and died in 2014 in California. He wrote several books on American history, such as The Other South, In Search of Human Nature, The Third American Revolution, and At Odds: Women and the Family in America from the Revolution to the Present.

When was Out Of Our Past first published?

• Out Of Our Past was first published in 1959 by Harper & Row. It was revised and updated several times since then, with the latest edition published in 1984.

What is the main argument of Out Of Our Past?

• The main argument of Out Of Our Past is that America's past is not a simple story of progress or decline, but a complex and dynamic process of change and continuity. Degler identifies three main forces that influenced this process: social movements, ideas, and external events. He shows how these forces interacted with each other and with the existing political, economic, and cultural structures to produce both continuity and change in American society.

What are some of the main themes of Out Of Our Past?

• Some of the main themes of Out Of Our Past are: the diversity and pluralism of the American experience, the role and perspective of different groups and regions in the nation's history, the influence and challenge of different ideas and values in American culture, the opportunities and challenges of modernization in America, and the reactions and responses to modernization in America.

Why is Out Of Our Past relevant and significant for contemporary readers?

Out Of Our Past is relevant and significant for contemporary readers because it helps them to understand and appreciate the origins and development of moder