Happily for us, Dr. Clarence Carson's Basic History series is now here to fill the void. Carson brings this kind of reverential attitude to the study of history. It is clear from the start of his first volume, The Colonial Experience , that he believes in the existence of God and truth. For Carson, the.study of history is a quest for truth and a pursuit with practical benefits. In short, there are great lessons to be learned from the study of history.
History provides continuous examples for the good and bad consequences of acts.
Careful students of history discover pitfalls to avoid as well as courses of action which promise good and desirable results. Carson is inspired by a thorough appreciation for the accumulated wisdom of civilization and a keen awareness of the vulnerability of the bonds that hold together our social order. So far as can be told from the record of history, we are always nearer to the edge of the abyss of decay, decline, and disintegration than it is easy to imagine in peaceful and orderly times. A Basic History of the United States is rich in factual detail, but even richer still in perspective. It covers well the people, land, events, conflicts, culture, and institutions that are central to our history.