Synopses & Reviews
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
Synopsis
U.S. History For Dummies,2nd Edition provides readers with relevant and factual information on the history of the United States. This new edition includes 25 percent new and revised material that includes coverage of the 2008 elections, the attacks of September 11th, 2001, the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and other recent events that have shaped U.S. history.
Synopsis
'Now revised–the friendly, easy-to-understand guide to the story of America
Since the publication of first edition of U.S. History For Dummies, significant events have reshaped thoughts about everything from oil consumption to mortgages to presidential candidates. This updated guide to the fascinating events and people of America\'s past and present features new and revised material covering the attacks of September 11th, the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the 2004 and 2008 elections, and other recent events that have shaped recent U.S. history. From pre-Columbus to the American Revolution, from the two World Wars to Watergate and beyond, it makes the topic accessible for students at all levels, as well as for parents and teachers who may need a quick refresher.
Steve Wiegand (Hometown TK) is an award-winning political journalist and history writer. He currently writes a thrice-weekly political column for the Sacramento Bee. '
Synopsis
This updated guide to the fascinating events and people of America's past and present features new and revised material covering the attacks of September 11th, the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the 2004 and 2008 elections, and other events that have shaped recent U.S. history.
About the Author
Steve Wiegand is an award-winning political journalist and history writer. He currently writes a thrice-weekly political column for the Sacramento Bee.
Table of Contents
Introduction 1Part I: Getting There, Getting Settled, and Getting Free 7
Chapter 1: America: A Short Biography 9
Chapter 2: Native Americans and Explorers: 12,000 BC(?)–1607 23
Chapter 3: Pilgrims’ Progress: The English Colonies, 1607–1700 43
Chapter 4: You Say You Want a Revolution : 1700–1775 57
Chapter 5: Yankee Doodlin’: 1775–1783 77
Chapter 6: Blueprints and Birth Pains: 1783–1800 91
Part II: Growing Pains 103
Chapter 7: “Long Tom” and One Weird War: 1800–1815 105
Chapter 8: Pulling Together to Keep from Falling Apart: 1815–1844 123
Chapter 9: War, Gold, and a Gathering Storm: 1845–1860 145
Chapter 10: A Most Uncivil War: 1861–1865 159
Chapter 11: Putting the Country Back Together: 1865–1876 175
Part III: Coming of Age 189
Chapter 12: Growing Up: 1876–1898 191
Chapter 13: Growing into the 20th Century: 1899–1918 209
Chapter 14: Gin, Jazz, and Lucky Lindy: 1919–1929 225
Chapter 15: Uncle Sam’s Depressed: 1930–1940 241
Chapter 16: The World at War: 1941–1945 257
Part IV: America in Adulthood 275
Chapter 17: TV, Elvis, and Reds under the Bed: 1946–1960 277
Chapter 18: Camelot to Watergate: 1961–1974 293
Chapter 19: Hold the Malaise, or, Ayatollah So: 1975–1992 309
Chapter 20: No Sex, Please, I’m the President: 1993–1999 323
Chapter 21: “It’s A Small World, After All”: Entering the 21st Century 337
Part V: The Part of Tens 357
Chapter 22: Ten American Inventions that Changed Life as We Know It 359
Chapter 23: Ten Events that Defi ned American Culture 363
Chapter 24: Ten Events in US History They Keep Making into Movies 367
Part VI: Appendixes 371
Appendix A: The Bill of Rights: Amendments 1–10 of the Constitution 373
Appendix B: The Declaration of Independence 375
Index 379