U.S. History For Dummies

Ace your next history test with this concise, easy-to-readguide U.S. History for Dummies, 3rd Edition fillsthe need to improve high school proficiency in history by providinga complete history of the United States, presented in anaccessible, reader-friendly format designed to engage studentswhile reinforcing lessons learned in class. The National Assessmentof Educational Progress 2011 report showed that only 12% of highschool seniors in the U.S. perform at a "proficient" level inhistory. This, coupled with the fact that U.S. History courses andAP exams have been redesigned to remedy the situation, means thatmany students and parents are in need of a supplemental studyguide. Award-winning political journalist and history writer SteveWiegand guides you through the events that shaped our nation, frompre-Columbian civilizations to the 21st century. Theexplorers, the wars, the leaders, and the eras are all fullyexplored and explained, demonstrating how the past influences thefuture. From the Boston Tea Party to the current Tea Party, theupdated 3rd edition includes information about eventsthat have occurred since the previous edition's 2009 release. Newcoverage includes: Recession recovery, including federal efforts, unemployment,and the widening class divide The rise of the extreme right and the bitter divisions betweenpolitical parties and geographic regions Seeking the balance between superpower and domesticcaretaker The impact of social media, government surveillance, and cybercrime Not all history is old news, and what happened yesterday affectsus all today. It is vitally important that all U.S. citizens arewell-versed in the building of our nation, and remain aware ofcurrent events. For students and parents wondering what they'vemissed, U.S. History for Dummies, 3rd Editionunlocks the door to the past--and the future.

Autorentext

Steve Wiegand, an award-winning political journalist and history writer for more than three decades, has been a reporter and columnist for the San Diego Evening Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, and Sacramento Bee. He has authored or coauthored a half-dozen books on world and U.S. history.

Klappentext

Learn:

• To appreciate the people, events, and places that shaped our nation
• The most controversial occurrences of the modern U.S. times
• The names and dates you need to know to score higher on your next U.S. History Exam
  The easy way to score higher in U.S. History

U.S. History For Dummies, 3rd Edition guides you through the events that shaped our nation, from the Boston Tea Party to the current Tea Party, and everything in between. For students looking to ace their next history exam, or anyone who wants to brush up on U.S. history, this easy-to-follow guide covers the wars, leaders, and eras that influenced where we are now, as well as and where we're headed.

• They're coming to America get to know the first-known settlers on American soil, the first non-Native Americans to explore the New World, and the first efforts of Europeans to create an actual settlement in America
• You say you want a revolution meet some of the most influential people in the early days of the United States and examine wars fought against pirates, England, Native Americans, and Mexico
• TV, Elvis, and reds under the bed take a look at the Cold War and how a booming economy, a move to the 'burbs, and the invention of television shaped American life

• The new face of America explore one of the most controversial presidential elections in U.S. history, the biggest terrorist attack in modern times, the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, and more
  Open the book and find:

• Interesting Americans, from political figures to national treasures
• The gold rush and industrial development
• The impact of the World Wars
• Causes and consequences of the Great Depression
• Life in America from Camelot to Watergate
• A look at how social media and technology are shaping America
• Ten events that helped define American culture

Zusammenfassung
Ace your next history test with this concise, easy-to-read guide U.S. History for Dummies, 3rd Edition fills the need to improve high school proficiency in history by providing a complete history of the United States, presented in an accessible, reader-friendly format designed to engage students while reinforcing lessons learned in class. The National Assessment of Educational Progress 2011 report showed that only 12% of high school seniors in the U.S. perform at a "proficient" level in history. This, coupled with the fact that U.S. History courses and AP exams have been redesigned to remedy the situation, means that many students and parents are in need of a supplemental study guide.

Award-winning political journalist and history writer Steve Wiegand guides you through the events that shaped our nation, from pre-Columbian civilizations to the 21st century. The explorers, the wars, the leaders, and the eras are all fully explored and explained, demonstrating how the past influences the future. From the Boston Tea Party to the current Tea Party, the updated 3rd edition includes information about events that have occurred since the previous edition's 2009 release. New coverage includes:

• Recession recovery, including federal efforts, unemployment, and the widening class divide
• The rise of the extreme right and the bitter divisions between political parties and geographic regions
• Seeking the balance between superpower and domestic caretaker
• The impact of social media, government surveillance, and cyber crime
  Not all history is old news, and what happened yesterday affects us all today. It is vitally important that all U.S. citizens are well-versed in the building of our nation, and remain aware of current events. For students and parents wondering what they've missed, U.S. History for Dummies, 3rd Edition unlocks the door to the pastand the future.

Inhalt
Introduction 1 Part I: Getting Started with US History 5

Chapter 1: America: A Short Biography 7

Chapter 2: Native Americans and Explorers: 14,000 BC (?)1607 21

Chapter 3: Pilgrims' Progress: The English Colonies, 16071700 39

Chapter 4: You Say You Want a Revolution: 1700 1775 53

Chapter 5: Yankee Doodlin': 1775 1783 69

Chapter 6: Blueprints and Birth Pains: 17831800 83

Part II: Growing Pains 95

Chapter 7: Long Tom and One Weird War: 18001815 97

Chapter 8: Pulling Together to Keep from Falling Apart: 18151844 115

Chapter 9: War, Gold, and a Gathering Storm: 18451860 137

Chapter 10: A Most Uncivil War: 18611865 151

Chapter 11: Putting the Country Back Together: 18651876 167

Part III: Coming of Age 179

Chapter 12: Growing Up: 18761898 181

Chapter 13: Growing into the 20th Century: 1899 1918 199

Chapter 14: Gin, Jazz, and Lucky Lindy: 19191929 215

Chapter 15: Uncle Sam's Depressed: 19301940 231

Chapter 16: The World at War: 19411945 247

Part IV: America in Adulthood 265

Chapter 17: TV, Elvis, and Reds under the Bed: 19461960 267

Chapter 18: Camelot to Watergate: 19611974 283

Chapter 19: Hold the Malaise, or, Ayatollah So: 1975 1992 299

Chapter 20: No Sex, Please, I'm the President: 1993 1999 313

Part V: Facing the New Millennium 325

Chapter 21: Terror Comes Home; America Goes to War(s) 327

Chapter 22: Recessions Can Be Really Depressing 341

Chapter 23: Reforming Healthcare Is No Tea Party 353

Chapter 24: This New America 367

Part VI: The Part of Tens 379

Chapter 25: Ten Events That Defined American Culture 381

Chapter 26: Ten Unfor tunate Statements by US Presidents 385

Part VII: The Appendixes 389

Appendix A: The Bill of Rights: Amendments 110 of the Constitution 391

Appendix B: The Declaration of Independence 393

Index 397