Making of America

The America that Alexander Hamilton knew was largely agricultural and built on slave labor. He envisioned something else: a multi-racial, urbanized, capitalistic America with a strong central government. He believed that such an America would be a land of opportunity for the poor and the newcomers. But Hamilton's vision put him at odds with his archrivals who envisioned a pastoral America of small towns, where governments were local, states would control their own destiny, and the federal government would remain small and weak. The disputes that arose during America's first decades continued through American history to our present day. Over time, because of the systems Hamilton set up and the ideas he left, his vision won out. Here is the story that epitomizes the American dream - a poor immigrant who made good in America. In the end, Hamilton rose from poverty through his intelligence and ability and did more to shape our country than any of his contemporaries.

Born in the Carolina backwoods, Andrew Jackson joined the American Revolutionary War at the age of thirteen. After a reckless youth of gunfights, gambling, and general mischief, he rose to national fame as the general who defeated the British in the Battle of New Orleans. Afterwards, Jackson ran for president as a political outsider, championing the interest of common farmers and frontiersmen. Determined to take down the wealthy, well-educated East Coast elites, he pledged to destroy the national bank, which he believed was an engine of corruption serving the interest of bankers and industrialists. A staunch nationalist, he sought to secure and expand the nation's borders. Believing that we the people included white men only, he protected the practice of slavery and opened new lands for white settlers by pushing the Native people westward. A polarizing figure in his era, Jackson ignited a populist movement that remains a powerful force in our national politics.

Born in a cabin deep in the backwoods of Kentucky and growing up in a family considered the poorest of the poor, Abraham Lincoln rose to become the sixteenth president of the United States. As president, he guided the United States through the Civil War, helped end slavery in America, and strengthened the federal government. This third installment in the Making of America series-a series that goes beyond individual narratives and links influential figures to create an overarching story of America's growth-continues the story of the first one hundred years of America's constitutional history, a story that began with Alexander Hamilton and Andrew Jackson.

Author Teri Kanefield examines the life of America's famous suffragette, Susan B. Anthony. Anthony was born into a world in which men ruled women: A man could beat his wife, take her earnings, have her committed into an asylum based on his word, and take her children away from her. While the young nation was ablaze with the radical notion that people could govern themselves, "people" were understood to be white and male. Women were expected to stay out of public life and debates. As Anthony saw the situation, "Women's subsistence is in the hands of men, and most arbitrarily and unjustly does he exercise his consequent power." She began her public career as a radical abolitionist, and after the Civil War, she became an international figurehead of the women's suffrage movement.

The fifth book in the Making of America series examines the life of America's 32nd president: his birth into one of America's elite families, his domineering mother, his marriage to Eleanor Roosevelt, his struggle with polio, and his political career. A Democrat, Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) won a record four presidential elections and is the longest-serving US president. During his time in office, he led the country through the Great Depression and World War II. He helped to redefine the role of the US government with the New Deal. Scholars often rate him as one of the three greatest US presidents along with George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.

When Thurgood Marshall-the great-grandson of a slave-was born, African Americans were denied equal rights in America. Segregation was legal. Lynching was common. In some places, African Americans were entirely excluded from public life; they were forbidden to enter public parks and museums or use public swimming pools and restrooms. After being denied admission to the University of Maryland Law School because of his race, Marshall enrolled at Howard University. He graduated first in his class and set out as a young lawyer determined to achieve equality for all Americans. Here is the story of how he did it-how he devised his legal strategy for expanding "we the people" to include all people. Thurgood Marshall explores his life, from his childhood in Baltimore to his trailblazing career as a civil-rights lawyer and, finally, to his years as a United States Supreme Court justice.

Unlike other biographies, the Making of America series goes beyond individual narratives linking influential figures to create an overarching story of America's growth that will deepen understanding of the country we live in today. This bundle featuring Alexander Hamilton, Abraham Lincoln, and Andrew Jackson tells the story of American constitutional history from the founding of the nation through the end of the Civil War. Listeners will begin by learning about Alexander Hamilton, a man who envisioned his country as a multi-racial, urbanized, capitalistic America with a strong central government. Hamilton's story epitomizes the American dream and leads nicely into the story of Andrew Jackson. Born in the Carolina backwoods, Jackson joined the American Revolutionary War at the age of thirteen. He then went on to become a consequential, polarizing figure in history. Finally, Abraham Lincoln's life and contributions are considered. One of America's most beloved presidents, Lincoln guided the United States through the Civil War, helped end slavery in America, and strengthened the federal government. Each historical figure discussed in this bundle made an everlasting impact on America's trajectory, and their contributions can be seen in almost every facet of our government.

Unlike other biographies, the Making of America series goes beyond individual narratives linking influential figures to create an overarching story of America's growth that will deepen understanding of the country we live in today. This bundle featuring Susan B. Anthony, Thurgood Marshall, and Franklin D. Roosevelt focuses on some of the most notable names in equality and voting rights in America. Listeners will begin by learning about the life of America's famous suffragette, Susan B. Anthony. Born into a world in which men ruled women, she made it her life's work to change the law so that women could have a voice. Next, we will take a look at America's 32nd president, Franklin D. Roosevelt. The longest-serving U.S. president, he redefined the role of the U.S. government. Finally, we will explore the life and contributions of Thurgood Marshall, a lawyer who advocated for equality for all Americans. Each historical figure discussed in this bundle made an everlasting impact on America's trajectory, and their contributions can be seen in almost every facet of our daily lives.