Days That Changed America

On April 9, 1861, soldiers gathered outside Fort Sumter. They were fighting for the Confederacy, which was made up of southern states that had left the United States. The soldiers demanded the U.S. Army leave the fort. Even though the fort had less than a week's worth of supplies, the Army refused. Three days later, a fight for the fort began. That battle was the start of the Civil War. Now readers can step back in time to learn about what led up to this historic conflict, how the costly event unfolded, and the ways in which one explosive day changed America forever.

The 1930s were a tough time. The Great Depression left many people jobless and penniless. Dust storms and drought led to failed crops. Livestock died. People thought things couldn't get much worse. Then, on April 14, 1935, the sky turned black. For hours, an enormous dust blizzard blanketed the country in darkness. Now readers can step back in time to learn about what led up to this terrifying storm, how the tragic event unfolded, and the ways in which one dark day changed America forever.

For years, the relationship between Great Britain and the American colonists had been wearing thin. Colonists felt they were being treated unfairly. The British thought they were putting down a rebellion. On April 19, 1775, the two sides clashed at Lexington and Concord. The American Revolution was about to begin. Now readers can step back in time to learn about what led up to the battles, how the historic events unfolded, and the ways in which one shot changed America forever.

President John F. Kennedy was a popular president. On November 22, 1963, he waved to excited crowds from the back of a car as it wound through the streets of Dallas, Texas. Suddenly, gunshots rang out. The president had been shot! He died shortly after. The country had lost its leader. Now readers can step back in time to learn about what led up to the assassination, how the fateful day unfolded, and the ways in which one shocking day changed America forever.