Books in A Look at US History series

A transcontinental railroad spanning the United States was once thought to be impossible. After a practical route was found, about 1,800 miles of track were laid from Nebraska to California in just 6 years. This railroad changed the nation, connecting the East and West Coast and making travel and communication easier than ever. Readers will be fascinated by the amazing tale of this railroad and the striking photographs that support this accessible narrative.

From the formal beginning of the women's suffrage movement in the United States to the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment, the journey to women's right to vote is endlessly fascinating. Leaders such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Alice Paul are part of this volume, which covers important curriculum points, including the Seneca Falls Convention and its Declaration of Sentiments. The main text succinctly introduces important events and groups as well as provides historical context outside of the suffrage movement. A concluding timeline aids readers in need of further review.

The Panama Canal is only about 40 miles long, but this narrow channel connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It saves ocean vessels from going around South America, which would otherwise be a 9,000-mile journey. Readers will learn about the canal's creation, how the United States became involved, and about the 40,000 people who worked on it over 10 years. They'll especially appreciate the amazing photographs of construction from the early 1900s as well as fact boxes that delve more deeply into the details of how the canal functions.

The Middles Ages aren't just an uninteresting period of history trapped between ancient times and the Renaissance, as the name suggests. It's 1,000 years of fascinating historical events, including the Crusades, the Black Death, and the longest war that has ever been fought. This comprehensible book takes young historians on the journey from the beginning of medieval times to the end. Maps, historical artwork, and a timeline help readers understand the essential moments of the Middle Ages.

Students often spend a long time learning about the early European settlements, such as Jamestown, and the founding the 13 British colonies that became the United States. Remembering and digesting so much information can be difficult, especially for struggling readers. Through accessible language and simple sentences, this book allows readers to review the history of the 13 colonies no matter the level at which they read. A concluding timeline helps readers chronologically order main events of the social studies curriculum while fact boxes offer explanations for important terms and more detail when needed.

Once the Industrial Revolution made it to the United States, the workforce changed forever. Not only that, family life, childhood, and the economy changed, too! A complex topic with many facets, the Industrial Revolution is covered in clear, accessible language in this book. Written with social studies curricula in mind, the main content includes age-appropriate detail, such as important dates, people, and vocabulary readers will likely need in the classroom. Struggling readers and those in need of review need look no further than this volume to enhance or refresh their knowledge of this key time period in U.S. history.

When the Louisiana Territory was added to the United States in 1803, it about doubled the size of the young nation. It took years to clarify its boundaries and explore every square mile. How this momentous purchase came to be and its implications on the future of the United States are explained in detail in this book. Simple maps and clear language help struggling readers and those in need of review to understand the many changes in the United States' land that started with this purchase in 1803.

The rights of a nation's citizens are civil rights. In the 1950s and 1960s, black Americans organized a movement to demand these rights, including equal education, the right to vote, and many other freedoms. This significant and accessible volume takes readers through the key events of the movement, including its victories and disappointments. Central figures such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X are featured, and a timeline helps readers understand the movement's progression.

Most people have at least seen a snowstorm on television, but imagine a storm of dust instead of snow. These were called black blizzards in the Dust Bowl, which was the name for the Great Plains of the United States during the 1930s. Readers will learn what transformed green farmland and lush grassland into a disaster area, forcing thousands to leave, and finally how the land was restored. Stunning photographs reflect the conditions, while Make the Grade fact boxes offer more information about this significant period in American history.

Students often spend a long time learning about the early European settlements, such as Jamestown, and the founding the 13 British colonies that became the United States. Remembering and digesting so much information can be difficult, especially for struggling readers. Through accessible language and simple sentences, this book allows readers to review the history of the 13 colonies no matter the level at which they read. A concluding timeline helps readers chronologically order main events of the social studies curriculum while fact boxes offer explanations for important terms and more detail when needed.