North America History

After Tripoli declared war on the United States in 1801, Barbary pirates captured 300 U.S. sailors and marines. President Jefferson sent navy squadrons to the Mediterranean, but he also authorized a secret mission to overthrow the government of Tripoli. He chose an unlikely diplomat, William Eaton, to lead the mission, but before Eaton departed, Jefferson grew wary of the affair and withdrew his support.

Bodett offers his keen, unforgettable observations of the lives of the peopleof Homer, Alaska, who "just ended up there, and stayed...

This book is an examination of how my family's history is interwoven with that of the history of the United States, in general, and that of North Carolina in particular. Three major 20th century players and historical events are highlighted. These players are my late father, Rev. Dr. Whalen Samuel Jones, as a young participant of the Great Migration; Sergeant Louis Franklin and the Second World War in Europe; and Gastonia Mayor Thebaud Jeffers and the Modern Civil Rights Movement. The 19th century predecessors laid the groundwork, and their roles will be examined in detail.

Randall Balmer was a late convert to sports talk radio, but he quickly became addicted, just like millions of other devoted American sports fans. As a historian of religion, the more he listened, Balmer couldn't help but wonder how the fervor he heard related to religious practice. From baseball to basketball and football to ice hockey, Balmer explores the origins and histories of big-time sports from the late nineteenth century to the present, with entertaining anecdotes and fresh insights into their ties to religious life.

New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice A riveting narrative about the biggest earthquake in North American recorded history—the 1964 Alaska earthquake that demolished the city of Valdez and swept away the island village of Chenega—and the geologist who hunted for clues to explain how...

How much do you know about the amazing Asian Americans who broke barriers in Hollywood, invented groundbreaking technologies, or won Olympic medals? Discover the often-overlooked stories of Asian American trailblazers who shaped our country and our world!

In this gripping narrative nonfiction book, meet the resolute and spirited people who fought for the rights of coal miners, and discover how the West Virginia Mine Wars paved the way for vital worker protections nationwide. More than a century later, this overlooked story of the labor movement remains urgently relevant.

North Georgia has more than forty lakes, and not one is natural. The state's controversial decision to dam the region's rivers for power and water supply changed the landscape forever.

Step into the world of Newport, Rhode Island, where America's colonial past, Gilded Age splendor, and maritime heritage converge on one spectacular island. In The Ultimate Visitor's Guide to Newport, Rhode Island: Where America's History and Coastal Beauty Meet, eighth-generation Newporter Susan A. Leys invites you to experience her beloved hometown as only a true insider can reveal it.

America's northern border is the world's longest international boundary, yet it remains obscure even to Americans. Travel writer Porter Fox spent two years exploring its length by canoe, freighter, and car - and in Northland, he delivers the little-known history of the region and a riveting account of his travels. Fox follows explorer Samuel de Champlain's adventures; recounts the rise and fall of the iron, wheat, and timber industries; crosses the Great Lakes on a freighter; and tracks America's fur traders through the Boundary Waters.

After Japanese planes bombed Pearl Harbor, over 100,000 Japanese Americans were ordered to leave their homes. The government was afraid that because they looked like “the enemy,” they might be spies. One American, librarian Clara Breed, was heartbroken and outraged. As the San Diego Public Library’s Children’s Librarian, Miss Breed was close to many of the children who were evacuated. She went to the train station the day they left, handing out postcards and telling them to send her letters.

Who’s Got Mail? is an intriguing and fact-filled look at how the mail has been delivered in the United States since before the Constitution was even signed. Full of eccentric characters, great stories, and technological achievements, this fun middle-grade narrative nonfiction from author Linda Barrett Osborne celebrates one of the oldest and strongest institutions, and is a true testament to the spirit of American democracy.

The first ten amendments of the U.S. Constitution—known as the Bill of Rights—include the guarantee that no person may be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. Yet this soaring vision of human rights was written by enslavers who deprived others of these rights. The struggle to resolve this paradox continues to the present day. With thought-provoking text, Rebels, Robbers, and Radicals explores how our rights have evolved as the nation grew and changed.

One hundred years ago, a mysterious and alarming illness spread across America's South, striking tens of thousands of victims. No one knew what caused it or how to treat it. People were left weak, disfigured, insane, and in some cases, dead.

Travel across the US with David Reynolds as he explores Route 50, one of the few remaining two-lane highways running from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Driving as slowly as safety permits, stopping frequently and often going backwards to have a second look at something glimpsed in passing, Reynolds talks to people on the streets, in bars and cafes, motels and gas stations. They talk about everything from slavery and the traditional Indian sundance, to cannabis in Colorado and tornadoes in Kansas, and about everyone from George Washington and Aaron Burr to Marilyn Monroe and the Eagles.

Meet Harry S. Truman, Joe McCarthy, Ike, JFK, LBJ, Rosa Parks, Thurgood Marshall, Elvis Presley, Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, Cesar Chavez, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton. Full coverage of everything, including President Clinton's impeachment trial.

It is the early twentieth century and the spiritualism movement is soaring in America. World War I and an influenza pandemic have killed hundreds of thousands. People are desperate to communicate with their dead loved ones, so they seek the help of mediums, psychics, and fortune tellers. The mourners don’t realize they’re being deceived by frauds. But famed magician Harry Houdini isn’t fooled. He knows that these scammers’ methods are no more than conjurer’s tricks. Houdini and his team of investigators, led by detective Rose Mackenberg, set out to expose the ghost hoaxes.

Covering a time of great hope and incredible change, Reconstructing America is a dramatic look at life after the Civil War in the newly re-United States. Railroad tycoons were roaring across the country. New cities sprang up across the plains, and a new and different American West came into being: a land of farmers, ranchers, miners, and city dwellers. Back East, large-scale immigration was also going on, but not all Americans wanted newcomers in the country.

Discover the heart of the Volunteer State with Exploring Tennessee, your ultimate Tennessee travel guide that blends rich history with unforgettable destinations. From the soaring peaks of the Great Smoky Mountains to the soulful streets of Nashville and Memphis, this comprehensive guide offers travelers, history buffs, and culture seekers an insider’s look at all Tennessee has to offer.

With 2016 promising to be an interesting and hotly contested election year, Votes of Confidence offers young listeners an essential guide to the past, present, and future of American elections.