American History (1-6)

Author: Liu Xuyi, Yang Shengmao, General Editor: Li Jianming, Li Jianming
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-10-01
Features: A scholarly, contemporary, scientific, and readable "History of the United States" compiled by Chinese scholars, which has long been a dream of Chinese researchers of American studies. To this end, Professor Yang Shengmao, Professor Liu Xuyi, and Mr. Deng Shusheng, among others, devoted nearly a quarter of a century to its creation. It is worth celebrating that on the occasion of the 23rd anniversary of the China Society for American Studies and the opening of the 10th Annual Meeting and Academic Symposium of the Society, scholars of American studies from different generations in China, after 23 years of persistent effort and night-and-day academic research, finally published the 3 million-character, six-volume "History of the United States" in October 2002. This is a thrilling piece of news for Chinese researchers of American studies.
The planning of the "History of the United States" began in 1978 and was launched in 1979. The project initially published the "Series" volumes before compiling them into a single-volume "History." The entire work was edited by Professor Liu Xuyi and Professor Yang Shengmao as the chief editors, published by the People's Publishing House, and edited by Mr. Deng Shusheng as the chief editor of the entire work. In June 1989, "Postwar American History, 1945-1986" was published. A revised edition of "Postwar American History, 1945-2000" was published in April 2002. "The American Civil War and the Gilded Age, 1981–Late 19th Century" was published in June 1990. "The American Revolution and Initial Prosperity, 1775–1980" was published in September 1993. "The Franklin D. Roosevelt Era, 1929–1945" was published in December 1994. "The Founding Era of the United States (1585-1775)" and "The Age of Rise and Expansion, 1898–1929" were both published in September 2001. Based on the completion of the six single-volume works, the People's Publishing House decided to publish the combined "History of the United States (Six-Volume Edition)."
The "History of the United States" consists of six volumes. Volume 1, "The Founding Era of the United States (1585-1775)," was written by Professor Li Jianming and is considered a high-level academic work that comprehensively discusses the human landscape, social life, and political and economic changes in North America before the American Revolution. It is a broad-minded, innovative, and insightful book rich in research, representing a significant achievement in the study of early American history in China.
Volume 2 of the "History of the United States," "The American Revolution and Initial Prosperity, 1775–1980," was edited by Professor Zhang Youlun, with contributions from American historians from Nankai University and other institutions. The book narrates the period from the American Revolutionary War in the 1770s to the early stages of the nation-building phase before the Civil War in the mid-19th century. "During this period, the United States faced numerous major challenges after independence—how to shake off the shadow of British rule, what path to take for future development, whether to form a unified federal state or a divided one, and whether to adopt slavery or capitalism. Solving these issues laid the foundation for the rapid development of the United States in the future." This volume reflects the long-term research efforts of its contributors.
Volume 3 of the "History of the United States," "The American Civil War and the Gilded Age, 1981–Late 19th Century," was edited by Professor Ding Zemin, with contributions from Professor Ding Zemin and American historians from Northeast Normal University. After eight years of teaching, research, and revisions, the book was completed. "The book provides a relatively comprehensive account of the American Civil War and the 'Gilded Age' (1865–1899), a period of rapid economic development in the United States that laid the foundation for the transition to monopoly capitalism."
Volume 4 of the "History of the United States," "The Age of Rise and Expansion, 1898–1929," was edited by Professor Yu Zhisen, with contributions from American historians from East China Normal University and other institutions. The book comprehensively discusses the significant transformations in the United States between the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries (1898–1929). "Readers will clearly understand from this book how the United States, a general capitalist country, rapidly developed into a world-class power. Rise and expansion are the themes of the 20th century in American history. At the same time, they also laid the groundwork for the unprecedented economic crisis in American history (1929–1933)."
Volume 5 of the "History of the United States," "The Franklin D. Roosevelt Era, 1929–1945," was primarily written by Professor Liu Xuyi, with Professor Li Cunxun as a co-author. The book provides a comprehensive and incisive analysis of Roosevelt's "New Deal," proposing the new concept and argument of "New Deal-style state-monopoly capitalism," which is a unique insight into the study of American history by Chinese scholars. "The authors have singled out the unprecedented 12 years of Roosevelt's presidency as a separate volume to emphasize its profound impact on American history, as well as to present a creative division of modern American history by some Chinese scholars."
Volume 6 of the "History of the United States," "Postwar American History, 1945–2000," was edited by Professor Liu Xuyi, with Professor Han Tie and Professor Li Cunxun as co-authors. The book took seven years to complete and was based on Professor Liu Xuyi's previous work, supplemented by historical records and materials from 1987 to 2000. "It comprehensively elaborates and analyzes major events and processes in postwar American politics, economy, diplomacy, military, society, culture, education, literature, and art." "It is an excellent work for understanding the United States in the latter half of the 20th century (1945–2000)."
In a message titled "Words from the Chief Editors" published on July 21, 2002, Professor Liu Xuyi and Professor Yang Shengmao of the six-volume "History of the United States" outlined some of its key features: "First, it must be guided by Marxist ideology while overcoming dogmatism and conducting realistic discussions based on American historical realities. It should reflect the characteristics of Chinese works on American history and represent the newest level of research in the field. Second, it should combine theory with practice, correct common misconceptions and vague understandings of American history, and draw on beneficial experiences from the United States while dispelling unrealistic fantasies about it. Third, it should break through the post-World War II boundary, which has not been officially declared but has long existed, and not stop at the end of World War II as previous American history publications did, to help readers better understand contemporary America. Fourth, it should comprehensively discuss American history, not just a simplistic and one-sided political and economic history. Fifth, it should use rich and novel materials, including a comprehensive and concise foreign bibliography and an index for reader convenience."
It is important to note that the official publication of the six-volume "History of the United States" not only gathers the collective research efforts of scholars of American studies from different generations in China but also owes much to the full dedication and meticulous organization of the senior editor, Mr. Deng Shusheng, and the high level of cooperation between the editors and authors. In a short message to the old and new friends attending the annual meeting of the China Society for American Studies on October 17, 2002, Mr. Deng Shusheng wrote: "After 23 years of planning and writing the six-volume 'History of the United States,' it was finally published in October 2002, and the results were excellent, receiving praise. Former Vice Minister of the State Press and Publication Administration, Liu Gao, called me on the phone and said, 'It's truly a masterpiece, excellent, excellent!' Since the entire set weighs 5.5 kilograms and is inconvenient to carry, I had to ask An Nian to bring a copy for the friends to review."
The time from the planning to the completion of the six-volume "History of the United States" coincides with the pace of China's reform and opening-up and the normalization of Sino-U.S. relations. It is believed that the publication of this general history will help the Chinese people better understand and recognize American history and society, and also contribute to the study of American history in China reaching the world.