American history from the New World to the Civil War The Brandywine Workbook in American History allows students to take an active role in learning about the history of their nation. Volume I: To 1877 begins with an exploration of the relationship between Europe, Africa, and the Americas before focusing on North America and the establishment of the American colonies. From the Revolution and the Constitution through the Reformation, Westward Expansion, the Civil War, and Reconstruction, this workbook covers the most dramatic, tumultuous period in the development of the United States.