Moments in History

The Vietnam War was a conflict between communist North Vietnam and the government of South Vietnam. The war spanned more than 15 years, and American involvement in the war was a point of great controversy. This book offers a well-balanced look at the causes of the war and surrounding controversies. Primary sources along with varying historians' opinions allow for a lively analysis.

The decade of the 1920s was a good time to be an American; wealth and luxury were on the rise, culture and music was roarin', and the world was returning to normalcy following World War I. All this changed after the stock market crash of 1929 slammed the United States into the Great Depression, which would last more than a decade. This book covers the causes that led up to this event that affected, not only the United States, but many other countries.

In the early morning hours of August 6, 1945, a B-29 bomber headed for the city of Hiroshima to drop an atomic bomb on the city. The aftermath of the bombing still lives with its inhabitants today. This book details the events of Hiroshima and explains why this haunting event occurred. Photographs from the period supplement well-researched material to give this book a well-rounded view of this tragedy.

World War I, a war that lead to the deaths of 15 million people, started with the assignation of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria on June 28, 1914. How did the assignation of one leader result in armed conflict involving more than 20 countries from multiple continents? The answer to this question and more is answered in this well-researched book, which combines primary source documents with other features to provide an unbiased look at the events of World War I.

The Holocaust was genocide of devastating proportions, perpetrated by the German government during World War II. During this time, millions of Jews were imprisoned or killed along with gypsies, the disabled, Communists, Socialists, and others. The atrocities committed during the Holocaust were, up to that time, unfathomable, and it's difficult to read about them without being stupefied by the facts. This book examines the Holocaust using well-researched information supplemented by primary sources from the time period, sidebars, and timelines.

The Cold War Era dominated politics between the United States and the Soviet Union for more than thirty years. During this time, the two superpowers tried different methods to undermine each other without outright attack. What led to this long period of mutual hostility? This book delves into this question with the help of photographs, primary source documents, historian critiques, and informative explanations.

Following their defeat during World War I, the Germans were looking for new leadership. Nazi Germany, also called the Third Reich, began when Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany under the National Socialist German Worker's Party (NSDAP) whose followers were called Nazis. Why the Germans embraced the Nazis rise to power is examined in this thoughtful book, which includes panels featuring subject-matter expert opinions to encourage critical thinking.

A mere two decades after the conclusion of World War I, another large-scale military conflict entrenched most of Europe and many other countries in warfare for a second time. Many of the causes of World War II can be found in the effects of World War I. This book examines some of those causes and effects, providing sidebars, timelines, detailed period photographs and well-researched information.