John Bach McMaster Biography

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Dictionary of Literary Biography on John Bach McMaster

John Bach McMaster was a pioneering historian who believed that people themselves, not institutions and wars alone, were the proper subject of written history. He discovered the daily newspaper as a legitimate source of historical knowledge, and he thought that a straightforward narrative was the best way to reveal the intriguing and inspiring story of the people of the United States. An ardent nationalist, he saw a need for an extensive, comprehensive history of his country that would inform the citizenry, generate pride and loyalty, and contribute to the nation's growth and improvement. His impact upon the writing and study of history was enormous. A university professor who influenced a generation of scholars, he was the first major American historian to describe the lives of the common people. He also wrote textbooks that were widely adopted at both the primary and secondary levels. Those who read his books learned a great deal about the virtues of the people of the United States, but they probably knew little about the warmth, modesty, and integrity of the man who had become their teacher.

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