For the average person, most of the American history that he or she knows comes from facts taught to them in school to prepare them for their state mandated tests. That's not the fault of their teachers who were just carrying out the directives of their employers. But it's also a fact that a great deal of that content that they were teaching is dry and boring. However, as in every aspect of life, there is always another story behind each major event. The story of America is interesting and exciting, but it's those lesser known parts of our history that make it special.

Even though in most cases, the names and events in the book will be recognizable, most of the stories about them will be new to the reader. If you're a young teacher, perhaps you'll find some material to help you get through those less-than-exciting areas of your textbook. If you hated history as a student, maybe you'll find some of these tales entertaining. For those of you who are history buffs, hopefully you'll come across a few things that are new to you.

Autorentext

By Mike Henry

Inhalt

Preface
1.) In the Beginning: The Early Arrivals and the Young Colonies
2.) Freedom: What a Revolutionary Idea!
3.) Welcome to the New Nation
4.) The War of 1812...and 1813...and 1814...and 1815
5.) 1815-1865: Growing Pains
6.) There's Nothing Civil About War
7.) Abraham Lincoln: Days of Dreams and Nightmares
8.) Before There was Law and Order, There was the Wild West!
9.) The Inventors: Lots of New Stuff
10.) 1900-1916: Don't Get Stuck in the Bath Tub!
11.) World War I: From Pancho to Paris
12.) Between the Wars 1918-1941: Other than the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, and Hitler...Things were Pretty Good
13.) World War II: That German Guy Sure has a Funny Mustache!
14.) 1945-1949: The Forties are Finished and Dewey Lost Again
15.) The Fifties: In the Event of a Nuclear Attack, Get under a Table!
16.) It's the Sixties: Far Out, Man
17.) The Seventies: There were Crooks in the White House and Everyone had Disco Fever!
18.) The Eighties: The President Looks just like this Guy that I Saw the Other Night in an Old Movie!
19.) The Nineties: Denials, Trials and the .com Market!
20.) The 21st Century: Terrorism and Twitter
21.) Never Follow a Legend
Epilogue: The Last Word
Acknowledgements
Bibliography