George Rogers Taylor, The Transportation Revolution- the best overview of economic development from 1815 to the Civil War

Harry L. Watson, Liberty and Power- synthesis of Jacksonian politics around "republicanism" and the "market revolution"

Daniel Feller, The Jacksonian Promise- thematic synthesis avoiding the terms "republicanism" and "market revolution"

Alice Felt Tyler, Freedom's Ferment- a dated but grand panorama of antebellum social experiment and reform

Ronald G. Walters, American Reformers 1815-1860- fine survey

James Brewer Stewart, Holy Warriors- good abolition survey

Peter Kolchin, American Slavery, 1619-1877

Bruce Catton, The Civil War (text from the American Heritage Picture History of the Civil War)- superb on military events but also very good on other aspects of the war

James M. McPherson, Battle Cry of Freedom- 1864-1865 narrative

Richard H. Sewell, A House Divided- quick survey of same years

Philip S. Paludan, A People's Contest & Emory S. Thomas, The Confederate Nation- standard histories of Union & Confederacy

Eric Foner, A Short History of Reconstruction

Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America

Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. The Age of Jackson

Edward Pessen, Jacksonian America

Sean Wilentz, Chants Democratic

Robert H. Abzug, Cosmos Crumbling

Kathryn K. Sklar, Catharine Beecher

Eugene D. Genovese, Roll, Jordan, Roll

David Potter, The Impending Crisis

Eric McKitrick, Andrew Johnson & Reconstruction

Willie Lee Rose, Rehearsal for Reconstruction

Eric Foner, Reconstruction