Exam preparation materials

U.S. History For Dummies 2nd Edition

U.S. History For Dummies 2nd Edition

Ace your next history test with this concise, easy-to-read guide

U.S. History for Dummies, 2nd Edition fills the need to improve high school proficiency in history by providing a complete history of the United States, presented in an accessible, reader-friendly format designed to engage students while reinforcing lessons learned in class. The National Assessment of Educational Progress 2011 report showed that only 12% of high school seniors in the U.S. perform at a "proficient" level in history. This, coupled with the fact that U.S. History courses and AP exams have been redesigned to remedy the situation, means that many students and parents are in need of a supplemental study guide.

Award-winning political journalist and history writer Steve Wiegand guides you through the events that shaped our nation, from pre-Columbian civilizations to the 21st century. The explorers, the wars, the leaders, and the eras are all fully explored and explained, demonstrating how the past influences the future. From the Boston Tea Party to the current Tea Party, the updated 2nd edition includes information about events that have occurred since the previous edition's 2009 release. New coverage includes:

  • Recession recovery, including federal efforts, unemployment, and the widening class divide
  • The rise of the extreme right and the bitter divisions between political parties and geographic regions
  • Seeking the balance between superpower and domestic caretaker
  • The impact of social media, government surveillance, and cyber crime
Not all history is old news, and what happened yesterday affects us all today. It is vitally important that all U.S. citizens are well-versed in the building of our nation, and remain aware of current events. For students and parents wondering what they've missed, U.S. History for Dummies, 2nd Edition unlocks the door to the past—and the future.

Introduction

Part I - Getting There, Getting Settled, and Getting Free

Chapter 1. America: A Short Biography

Chapter 2. Native Americans and Explorers: 12,000 BC(?)-1607

Chapter 3. Pilgrims' Progress: The English Colonies, 1607-1700

Chapter 4. You Say You Want a Revolution. ...: 1700-1775

Chapter 5. Yankee Doodlin': 1775-1783

Chapter 6. Blueprints and Birth Pains: 1783-1800

Part II - Growing Pains

Chapter 7. "Long Tom" and One Weird War: 1800-1815

Chapter 8. Pulling Together to Keep from Falling Apart: 1815-1844

Chapter 9. War, Gold, and a Gathering Storm: 1845-1860

Chapter 10. A Most Uncivil War: 1861-1865

Chapter 11. Putting the Country Back Together: 1865-1876

Part III - Coming of Age

Chapter 12. Growing Up: 1876-1898

Chapter 13. Growing into the 20th Century: 1899-1918

Chapter 14. Gin, Jazz, and Lucky Lindy: 1919-1929

Chapter 15. Uncle Sam's Depressed: 1930-1940

Chapter 16. The World at War: 1941-1945

Part IV - America in Adulthood

Chapter 17. TV, Elvis, and Reds under the Bed: 1946-1960

Chapter 18. Camelot to Watergate: 1961-1974

Chapter 19. Hold the Malaise, or, Ayatollah So: 1975-1992

Chapter 20. No Sex, Please, I'm the President: 1993-1999

Chapter 21. "It's A Small World, After All": Entering the 21st Century

Part V - The Part of Tens

Chapter 22. Ten American Inventions that Changed Life as We Know It

Chapter 23. Ten Events that Defined American Culture

Chapter 24. Ten Events in U.S. History They Keep Making into Movies

Part VI - Appendixes

Appendix A: The Bill of Rights: Amendments 1-10 of the Constitution

Appendix B: The Declaration of Independence

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