Movements and Moments That Changed America

During the 1950s, America and the Soviet Union were locked in an intense political and military standoff called the Cold War. Out of this competition came the greatest adventure of mankind to date: humans left Earth and went into space, changing history forever. Through accessible yet engaging text, captivating photographs, and informative sidebars, readers will learn about the first rockets launched during World War II, and Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin who was the first man in space. Details of the long and dangerous trip when Neil Armstrong, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, and Michael Collins finally set foot on the moon will enrapture readers. Students will explore how past successes and failures have led to present-day accomplishments.

Prohibition was a grassroots movement that changed America. Through an engaging recounting of historical events accompanied by eye-catching imagery, students will get to know some of Prohibition's dynamic leaders through their own words and actions, including Carry Nation who swung her ax to break up saloons, and Frances Willard who was a leader of the Women's Christian Temperance Union. Readers will meet Purley Baker, the persuasive lobbyist who convinced lawmakers to carry out the plans of his organization, the Anti-Saloon League, and ban the sale and manufacture of distilled spirits. A detailed chronology, chapter notes, and a further reading section with books, websites, and films offer in-depth information and additional resources for study.

In 1830, many immigrants from the United States called Texas, then a territory of Mexico, home. These immigrants outnumbered Mexican citizens. The U.S. government offered to buy Texas. Instead, Mexico sent troops to keep more U.S. settlers from crossing the border. Tension mounted, as each side prepared to take a stand. Today, people often forget Texas was once part of Mexico, but the cry "Remember the Alamo" has lived on in history. Engaging text, informative sidebars, and fascinating images will help students discover how the battle for the Alamo was the first step toward Texas independence and statehood, and how this event has shaped the political climate since then.

The words "nuclear war" strike fear into the hearts of people all over the world. Movies and books depict the apocalyptic aftermath of such an event. While fictitious accounts may not be totally accurate, in October 1962, the United States came perilously close to finding out the reality of such a catastrophe during the Cuban Missile Crisis. For thirteen days, the country teetered on the verge of nuclear war. Through engaging text, accompanied by dynamic images and intriguing sidebars, students will learn exactly how close the nation came to World War III and how the country was pulled back from the brink.

On December 10, 1869, Governor John Campbell of the Wyoming Territory signed the women's suffrage bill into law. For the first time, women had the right to vote, although this was limited to women in the Wyoming Territory. Through accessible yet engaging text enhanced by appealing images and fascinating sidebars, students will learn the struggles and triumphs of the social activists that changed the face of voting. They'll meet the woman behind the Wyoming law, Esther Morris. She rose from a bleak childhood in an orphanage to become one of the most important people in the women's suffrage movement. They'll also meet suffrage activists including Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Lucy Stone, and examine how their legacy continues to impact women's lives today.

For thousands of years, before the arrival of Christopher Columbus and the Europeans, the vast American landscape was home to millions of Native Americans, whose ancestors still remain on the land today. They formed a wide variety of regional cultures, dotting the unspoiled environs stretching from the stark, red rock formations of the Southwest to the thick forestlands of the Northeast. Through descriptive and captivating text enhanced by detailed images and informative sidebars, readers will examine how each Indian culture group adapted to their unique surroundings and turned nature into home, as they built their houses, hunted for food, raised their children, and worshiped their gods.

In 1692, a group of girls in Salem Village set off a witchcraft panic that engulfed eastern Massachusetts. As a result, nineteen people were hanged as witches and an old man was killed under torture. Through an engaging recounting of historical events enhanced by memorable photographs and illustrations, readers will examine witchcraft beliefs in Europe and colonial New England. They will examine the factors that influenced the panic in Salem, including why the town and the surrounding communities fell prey to such unbridled terror and why, instead of calling for calm and reason, the authorities also became swept up in the hysteria.

The Harlem Renaissance was like a magnificent fireworks display; it was colorful, brilliant, and in a few moments, it was over. This was the first time African Americans had led a cultural movement and the first time that white Americans had paid attention to their achievements. Through striking images and fascinating details, this book examines the origins of the Harlem Renaissance, especially the key roles played by W.E.B. Du Bois and other prominent figures such as Langston Hughes, Louis Armstrong, and Josephine Baker. Students will gain a deeper understanding of the literature, music, dance, and art that depicted the triumphs and sorrows of black Americans during the age of speakeasies and rent parties.