Teacher's Guide to Land of Hope

Wilfred M. McClay is professor of history and the Victor Davis Hanson Chair in Classical History and Western Civilization at Hillsdale College.John D. McBride was educated at Rice University (BA 1968, MA 1971) and the University of Virginia (PhD 1977). He taught high-school history in Chattanooga, Tennessee from 1974 to 2010 at the Baylor School and the David Brainerd Christian School. He has also taught political science and history as an adjunct for twenty-five years at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. After retirement, he spent six years mentoring and teaching as a volunteer at Walker State Prison, Georgia's faith-and character-based prison.

“Professor McClay has brought faith, hope, and charity to this comprehensive and readable narration of our National Story.” —Will Fitzhugh, The Concord Review “This affirmative, evenhanded review of American history, institutions, and character is refreshing, and comes none too soon, when so many accounts are merely trying to settle scores. Beautifully written and fair-minded, Land of Hoperanks among the finest surveys of the nation’s past.”—Gilbert T. Sewall, American Textbook Council “Every page pops with the extraordinary achievements, near misses, and frustrating failures of a nation formed by the common pursuit of liberty and happiness.”—Robert L. Jackson, Institute for Classical Education  “Our children stand at risk of not knowing who they are as inheritors and keepers of American freedom. Enter Wilfred M. McClay. This latest edition of his beautiful narrative forms a compelling vision of America’s past.”—Andrew J. Zwerneman, Cana Academy  “Students fortunate enough to encounter these volumes will become better readers and more knowledgeable citizens.”—Lucien Ellington, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga “Our nation is facing challenges from those who contend that America was founded on evil principles and should be effectively dismantled. This superbly readable volume tells the story of America accurately—critiquing what we got wrong but praising the many things we got right. This approach will produce fair-minded citizens who are loyal to our ideals but who are also willing to challenge our leaders to live up to them.”—Michael Farris, president & CEO, Alliance Defending Freedom, and founder, Home School Legal Defense Association “This Young Readers Edition brings the great American story into the lives of late primary and middle-school children. We use it in Hillsdale College’s affiliated K-12 schools, and enthusiastically recommend it to any teacher or parent.”—Dr. Kathleen O'Toole, Assistant Provost for K-12 Education, Hillsdale College