The story of how the thirteen North American colonies established by Great Britain went on to form the nucleus of the United States is both fascinating and complex. Since its initial publication in 1992, Colonial America has garnered wide acclaim for its accessibility and well-balanced approach in revealing the myriad influences that shaped early American history to a wide audience. The fourth edition is certain to enhance its sterling reputation as the standard textbook for students of this seminal period of American [...] updated and revised to reflect the most recent scholarship, the fourth edition features extensive new coverage of the simultaneous development of French, Spanish, and Dutch colonies in North America. Other additions include enhanced coverage of the English colony of Barbados and trans-Atlantic influences on colonial development, as well as re-written and updated chapters on families and women. More focused attention is also given to the perspectives of Native Americans and their important influences in shaping the history and development of the [...] its continued in-depth coverage of the background, founding, and development of the thirteen English North American colonies, Colonial America: A History to 1763, 4th Edition offers the most complete portrait of the diverse people, events, and influences that lead to the creation of the United States.