The textbook provides a survey of American history starting from the earliest interactions among Indigenous peoples, Europeans, and Africans, and extends in its second volume to the first decades of the 21st century. It aims to offer a clear and concise narrative that centers on the theme of the changing contours of American freedom. This thematic focus seeks to tie various historical periods and events together under the broad and evolving concept of freedom.

A significant update in the 7th edition is the introduction of two new co-authors: Kathleen DuVal and Lisa McGirr. DuVal brings expertise in Indigenous history, particularly in relation to early American history, while McGirr contributes her knowledge of later American history. The Preface outlines that DuVal was primarily responsible for revising the chapters dealing with the early periods of American history (Chapters 1 to 10), and McGirr handled the later periods (Chapters 18 to 28). Eric Foner continued to oversee revisions for the middle sections (Chapters 11 to 17).

One of the most notable enhancements in this edition is the increased focus on Indigenous history. This aligns with the book’s central theme of freedom, particularly how it has been perceived and pursued by Indigenous peoples.