Now revised — the easy-to-understand guide to the story of America Want to better understand U.S. History? This friendly book serves as your tour guide through the important events of America's past and present, introducing you to the people who helped to shape history. From pre-Columbus to the American Revolution, from Watergate to Iraq to Barack Obama, you'll discover fascinating details that you won't find in dry history texts! They're coming to America — explore early civilizations, meet Native Americans, and see how the development of the English colonies led to slavery and the American Revolution From Thomas Jefferson to Abraham Lincoln — examine the contributions of great Americans as well as the discovery of gold, the birth of California, the Civil War, and Manifest Destiny America grows up — be there during the conquering of the West, industrial development, and the invention of the light bulb and the telephone The impact of the World Wars — understand the sweeping changes these epochal events brought to America and the rest of the world The Cold War, Camelot, and Clinton — take a closer look at the Korean War and communism, the fabulous '50s, JFK, Vietnam, Nixon and Watergate, Reaganomics, and the Clinton years From the '90s to now — witness the birth of the microchip, the impact of hanging chads in a presidential election, the largest terrorist attack on American soil, and the growing economic crisis Open the book and find: Ten important events that defined American culture Interesting Americans, from presidents to gangsters to sports heroes How America fought to win independence from England Details about all the major wars and their long-term effects Insight into the roots of slavery Inventions that changed life for Americans The impact of the atomic bomb The Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence

Are You a Cynical Beginner? You may not have a Ph.D. in history, but you already know -- or can readily believe -- that Columbus didn't exactly "discover" America. Or that the man who wrote the Declaration of Independence was a slaveholder. Or that our leaders may not be entirely committed to the effort to make sure that in fact no child is left behind. But the truth of individual lives can be more compelling than they initially appear: surprising, informative, and maybe even inspiring. This book explores a few such lives, and the lessons they offer in ways that might actually mean something outside a classroom. These biographical case studies -- which include General George Washington, who was once invited to lead a military coup against the new American government; Ida Wells, who responded to lynchings by publicly mocking the manhood of those who murdered African Americans; and Eugene Debs, who chose to go to jail to protect free speech -- explore a series of questions. How does one keep true to one's principles in the face of social pressure? What strategies work best in addressing your opponents? Can public acts atone for private flaws? In different ways, the profiles in courage here provide answers to these questions -- not definitive answers, but real ones. You can weigh them, accept them, reject them, or -- who knows? -- maybe even apply them. You may not end up any less cynical after leafing through this book. But you will be less of a beginner.

U.S. History is designed to meet the scope and sequence requirements of most introductory courses. The text provides a balanced approach to U.S. history, considering the people, events, and ideas that have shaped the United States from both the top down (politics, economics, diplomacy) and bottom up (eyewitness accounts, lived experience). U.S. History covers key forces that form the American experience, with particular attention to issues of race, class, and gender.

Object of this book is to present clearly and accurately facts and principles in the lives of some of the chief founders and builders of America which would be of interest for everyone interested in history. Contents: Columbus John and Sebastian Cabot Balboa, Ponce De Leon, and De Soto Sir Walter Raleigh Captain John Smith Captain Henry Hudson Captain Myles Standish Lord Baltimore Roger Williams King Philip William Penn General James Oglethorpe Benjamin Franklin George Washington Daniel Boone General James Robertson Governor John Sevier General George Rogers Clark General Rufus Putnam Eli Whitney Thomas Jefferson Robert Fulton General William Henry Harrison General Andrew Jackson Professor Samuel F. B. Morse General Sam Houston Captain Robert Gray Captain J. A. Sutter Abraham Lincoln

What is Black History? Did you know what blacks were in Cortez’s crew in Mexico, with Pizarro in Peru and Alvarado in Quito…that when Balboa discovered the Pacific Ocean, 30 black people were with him….that when Alarcon and Coronado conquered Mexico, black people were with them too? Any misunderstandings between blacks and whites in today’s society tend to stem from the misconceptions about blacks that have been allowed to thrive throughout the ages. The only way to help abolish stereotypes is to help present a more complete picture of the black people throughout history. Black History For Beginners covers a rich but often ignored history and chronicles the black struggle from capture and enslavement in Africa through the Civil Rights movement and up to today and the new and different kinds of struggles that black people face today

As an educator with many years of experience in directing English as a Second Language (ESL) and cross-cultural programs, Kathleen Gripman spotted a troubling gap in the educational preparation of many students. Learning the essentials of American history is a critical educational milestone, but most overviews of America’s story are designed for reading levels beyond the ability of most English Language Learners. Gripman decided to fill that gap with the richly illustrated and fun-to-read book American History Made Easy. The book begins with the meeting of European and native cultures in what is now the U.S. after the voyage of Christopher Columbus in 1492. The story continues through the American Revolution, the expansion of the nation in the 1800s, the Civil War and key events in America’s most recent century of challenges and triumphs. To make students’ studying easier, the book also includes lots of supplemental materials, among them: study questions, the text of the U.S. Constitution, a list of American authors and recommended reading, a glossary and an index. Gripman had the perfect qualifications to meet this challenge as a successful business owner supervising ESL educators in southeast Michigan—and as a developer of some of the literacy-training materials used in her programs. Gripman also had lived overseas, including five years of service in Europe with the U.S. Navy. She designed her overview of American history for the millions of English Language Learners (ELL), including English as a Second Language students, who are studying each year across the United States. The book can be used either in a classroom or for self-study. Between these covers, Gripman narrates the essential chapters of American history, written at an intermediate reading level and accompanied by original black-and-white sketches and charts to deepen reader recall. In selecting the chapters to include, she drew on the questions frequently asked on exams and certification tests that immigrants commonly encounter, making the book a practical way to prepare for testing. Most importantly, Gripman decided not to distill America’s story into a series of dry facts to be memorized. Writing in an engaging narrative style, her book also is ideal for any reader who wants an overview of the essentials of American history.

The President of the United States is an office that attracts men of all character. From George Washington to Barack Obama, the office has been held by farmers, scholars, veterans, and lawyers from all regions of the United States. The American Presidency For Beginners tells a concise history of the actions and consequences of all 44 presidents. The evolution of the presidency—from the weak curator of Congress to becoming the titan of policy, both domestic and foreign—is highlighted in 10 sections. The American Presidency For Beginners is a must read for those who find the position of commander in chief compelling and who want to learn more about the eclectic personalities that have led the US.

For too long we’ve lacked a compact, inexpensive, authoritative, and compulsively readable book that offers American readers a clear, informative, and inspiring narrative account of their country. Such a fresh retelling of the American story is especially needed today, to shape and deepen young Americans’ sense of the land they inhabit, help them to understand its roots and share in its memories, all the while equipping them for the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship in American society The existing texts simply fail to tell that story with energy and conviction. Too often they reflect a fragmented outlook that fails to convey to American readers the grand trajectory of their own history. This state of affairs cannot continue for long without producing serious consequences. A great nation needs and deserves a great and coherent narrative, as an expression of its own self-understanding and its aspirations; and it needs to be able to convey that narrative to its young effectively. Of course, it goes without saying that such a narrative cannot be a fairy tale of the past. It will not be convincing if it is not truthful. But as Land of Hope brilliantly shows, there is no contradiction between a truthful account of the American past and an inspiring one. Readers of Land of Hope will find both in its pages.

Object of this book is to present clearly and accurately facts and principles in the lives of some of the chief founders and builders of America which would be of interest for everyone interested in history. Contents: Columbus John and Sebastian Cabot Balboa, Ponce De Leon, and De Soto Sir Walter Raleigh Captain John Smith Captain Henry Hudson Captain Myles Standish Lord Baltimore Roger Williams King Philip William Penn General James Oglethorpe Benjamin Franklin George Washington Daniel Boone General James Robertson Governor John Sevier General George Rogers Clark General Rufus Putnam Eli Whitney Thomas Jefferson Robert Fulton General William Henry Harrison General Andrew Jackson Professor Samuel F. B. Morse General Sam Houston Captain Robert Gray Captain J. A. Sutter Abraham Lincoln