Opponents in American History

The differences between the Federalists and Antifederalists revolved around the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. It was an argument that started in the late 1780s and in some ways; it's a debate that's still being had today; the power of the federal government versus states' rights, the interpretation of individual liberties, and urban versus rural areas. This book examines the issues from both sides, profiles the key Founding Fathers who were involved, and discusses the impact of the Antifederalists' most important victory, forcing the Constitutional Convention to adopt a bill of rights. Readers will learn how the disagreement between the Federalists and Antifederalists caused the creation of the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution, which protect U.S. citizens' freedoms to this day.

Although Thomas Jefferson wrote "all men are created equal" in the Declaration of Independence in 1776, women wouldn't be allowed to vote in the United States until many years later. Suffragists, the women who fought for the vote, faced great opposition from several forces, even other groups of women. In 1848, Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and numerous other pioneering suffragists met in Seneca Falls, New York, for the first women's rights convention held in the United States. It wasn't until 1920, however, that all U.S. women gained the right to vote through the 19th Amendment. Readers will learn about the American women's suffrage movement from its earliest years and into the 20th century.

Elected officials have a duty to represent and advocate for the values of those who elected them. Most politicians align themselves with one of two political parties: Republican or Democratic. But did you know that the Republican Party used to support big government spending and the Democratic Party favored small government? In many ways, the parties we know today have completely changed sides. But why? This book explores the history of the Republican and Democratic Parties, while presenting situations in which the two disagreed and times when they put their differences aside for the sake of the nation.

The dispute over slavery began before the founding of the United States. Abolitionists saw the ownership of one human being by another as an intolerable evil. Slave owners believed it was essential to their economy and way of life. The struggle between the two shaped the growth and government of the nation. This exciting book shares the views of key figures in their own words. Readers will learn about the many forms the debate took, from bestselling books to bloody battles. Interesting fact boxes and historical images bring the issues into clear focus for readers.

The American Revolutionary War pitted the colonial Patriots, who wanted independence from Great Britain and King George III, against the British Loyalists in North America. Some of the most well-known Patriots included future presidents of the United States, such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams. It featured prominent Founding Fathers such as Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and others. This book explores why family, friends, and neighbors in the colonies became divided during the birth of a new a nation. Primary sources from the era and helpful images help readers make meaningful connections with the text.

The United States of America was born of cooperation and conflict. On one side were the Native Americans, represented by dozens of different tribes from coast to coast. On the other were the European settlers, who flocked to the New World seeking freedom or fortune. What began as a sometimes friendly and cooperative relationship soon led to bitter and bloody conflicts as the young and fragile nation sought its identity. This book explores the complex history and the turbulent relations between native people and the new settlers in North America.