Pulitzer Prize History Winner

The Colonial Period of American History

by Charles McLean Andrews

Summary

Andrews reframes the founding of the American colonies as part of the larger British imperial and commercial system rather than as a simple prelude to revolution. He examines settlement, trade, and colonial government through the lens of England's Atlantic empire. The work helped establish the imperial school of colonial history and remains a landmark for understanding early America in transatlantic terms.

Historical Context & Significance

The first volume of this multivolume series won the Pulitzer Prize for History in 1935, capping the career of a leading Yale historian of the imperial school.