Books in History Eyewitness series

Harriet Tubmans fame as a conductor on the Underground Railroad led to her nickname: Moses. She displayed considerable courage leading fugitive slaves to freedom and, incredibly, never lost a passenger. Less well known is Tubmans service in the Union army as a scout and spy during the Civil War. This captivating volume uses Tubmans own remembrances as well as other primary sources to provide a greater understanding of her astonishing life story as well as major issues of the United States in the 1800s. Historic photographs, fact boxes, and sidebars add valuable information to the main text and appealing design.

Neil Armstrong, the first person to step on the moon, uttered the legendary statement: Thats one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind. This thrilling book explains how a young boy from Ohio became arguably the most famous astronaut of all time. A pilot by the time he was 16, Armstrong served in the Korean War before joining the US space program. Readers will learn the amazing story of the journey to the moon and gain an understanding of how perilous that mission really was. Armstrongs interviews, writings, and other insights are interspersed throughout this must-read volume.

The life-altering experiences of the American soldiers who liberated three Nazi concentration camps.On April 4, 1945, United States Army units from the 89th Infantry Division and the 4th Armored Division seized Ohrdruf, the first of many Nazi concentration camps to be liberated in Germany. In the weeks that followed, as more camps were discovered, thousands of soldiers came face to face with the monstrous reality of Hitler’s Germany. These men discovered the very depths of human-imposed cruelty and depravity: railroad cars stacked with emaciated, lifeless bodies; ovens full of incinerated human remains; warehouses filled with stolen shoes, clothes, luggage, and even eyeglasses; prison yards littered with implements of torture and dead bodies; and―perhaps most disturbing of all―the half-dead survivors of the camps. For the American soldiers of all ranks who witnessed such powerful evidence of Nazi crimes, the experience was life altering. Almost all were haunted for the rest of their lives by what they had seen, horrified that humans from ostensibly civilized societies were capable of such crimes. Military historian John C. McManus sheds new light on this often-overlooked aspect of the Holocaust. Drawing on a rich blend of archival sources and thousands of firsthand accounts―including unit journals, interviews, oral histories, memoirs, diaries, letters, and published recollections―Hell Before Their Very Eyes focuses on the experiences of the soldiers who liberated Ohrdruf, Buchenwald, and Dachau and their determination to bear witness to this horrific history.

The journey of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark across the newly acquired Louisiana Territory from 1804 to 1806 was truly extraordinary. It's best explained using the journals of these two explorers. In this book, primary source materials were carefully chosen to highlight the most interesting and exciting parts of the adventure. Maps, sidebars, and fact boxes highlight many of the exploits of the Corps of Discovery.

Prelude to Revolution tells the story of a critical event in America’s early history, when a new nation’s fate was still uncertain.Before colonial Americans could declare independence, they had to undergo a change of heart. Beyond a desire to rebel against British mercantile and fiscal policies, they had to believe that they could stand up to the fully armed British soldier. Prelude to Revolution uncovers one story of how the Americans found that confidence.On April 19, 1775, British raids on Lexington Green and Concord Bridge made history, but it was an episode nearly two months earlier in Salem, Massachusetts, that set the stage for the hostilities. Peter Charles Hoffer has discovered records and newspaper accounts of a British gunpowder raid on Salem. Seeking powder and cannon hidden in the town, a regiment of British Regulars were foiled by quick-witted patriots who carried off the ordnance and then openly taunted the Regulars. The prudence of British commanding officer Alexander Leslie and the persistence of the patriot leaders turned a standoff into a bloodless triumph for the colonists. What might have been a violent confrontation turned into a local victory, and the patriots gloated as news spread of "Leslie’s Retreat."When British troops marched on Lexington and Concord on that pivotal day in April, Hoffer explains, each side had drawn diametrically opposed lessons from the Salem raid. It emboldened the rebels to stand fast and infuriated the British, who vowed never again to back down. After relating these battles in vivid detail, Hoffer provides a teachable problem in historic memory by asking why we celebrate Lexington and Concord but not Salem and why New Englanders recalled the events at Salem but then forgot their significance.Praise for the work of Peter Charles Hoffer"This book more than succeeds in achieving its goal of helping students understand and appreciate the cultural and intellectual environment of the Anglophone world."―New England Quarterly, reviewing When Benjamin Franklin Met the Reverend Whitefield"A synthetic essay of considerable grace and scope... An excellent overview of the field."―Journal of Legal History, reviewing Law and People in Colonial America

Blast off to the farthest reaches of the universe in a provocative overview of mankind's fascination with space. From the first rocket launch of the 1950s, and the "space race" that ensued, to present-day wonders like the Hubble Space Telescope and the Mir space station, young space enthusiasts will learn about the exciting history and future of space travel and even follow a day in the life of an astronaut in this out-of-this-world addition to the popular Eyewitness series.

Engaging and entertaining reference guide about dinosaurs - perfect for younger readers. From the Tyrannosaurus striding through the rainforest to the Brachiosaurus reaching for food in the tree tops Eyewitness Dinosaur reveals all the fascinating facts about these amazing creatures. Discover all about the terrifying world of dinosaurs with big, bold pictures, interesting fact boxes and tips from the experts, Eyewitness Dinosaur will show you how the T-Rex hunted for its prey, why the Triceratops had a horned face and the reasons why they no longer exist today. Packed with all the essential information from the previous edition Eyewitness Dinosaur is now more interactive and colourful than ever with new infographics, statistics, facts and timelines making the book more engaging. Eyewitness Dinosaur also includes a giant fold-out wall chart full of facts, perfect for bedrooms or classrooms. Great for projects or for homework help this exciting guide reveals everything you ever wanted to know about dinosaurs!