College text gives religion its due

In 1776, the first draft of the Declaration of Independence protested that Britain's supposedly "Christian king" had "waged a cruel war against human nature" and violated "sacred rights of life & liberty" by enslaving Africans.

Further, it said, slaves often suffered "miserable death" in transit to America and King George had suppressed every attempt "to prohibit or to restrain this execrable commerce."

The Continental Congress quickly deleted this moralistic language from a slave owner, Thomas Jefferson.

Students of history are regularly rewarded with such surprises. They'll discover this one and many more in the college textbook "Unto a Good Land: A History of the American People" (Eerdmans). The 10-year production from six historians and 50 consultants covers Indian life before Columbus through the 2004 election and war in Iraq.

No dry academic exercise, the flowing narrative makes this an enjoyable read for anyone seeking a broad overview of American history.

Historian A.J. Scopino at Central Connecticut State University says it's "a splendid work of social and cultural history wherein religion earns its proper place."

That religion aspect distinguishes "Good Land" from competitors. One cannot understand America and ignore its ever-present piety, so different from Europe. This textbook also fits the trend to treat the arts, science, minorities, women's history and popular culture alongside the usual political and military power games.

Though "Good Land" is carefully nonsectarian and notes religion's influence for both good (civil rights) and ill (witchcraft trials), it may prove a tough sell at secular universities.

Other random discoveries:

• Though Columbus believed his explorations were divinely ordained, he nearly lost royal sponsorship because a committee of clergy, Spain's only educated scholars, opposed him, but he was backed by a Franciscan friar who had Queen Isabella's ear.

• Ever wonder why Brazil became a Portuguese colony while Spain claimed the rest of South America? That division was worked out in response to the pope's carving up of the world map the year after Columbus sailed.

• In the early 1600s, King James denounced users of the "filthie noveltie" of tobacco for "sinning against God, harming your selves both in persons and goods." Virginia's governor fretted that farmers endangered their health by raising profitable tobacco instead of needed vegetables.