A scholarly work that aims to be both broad enough in scope to satisfy upper-division undergraduates studying folk belief and narrative and detailed enough to meet the needs of graduate students in the field.

Find out what life was like in colonial America from the people who lived it! This first book in the American Heritage American Voices series will give you a rare glimpse into the day-to-day experiences of early Americans. You'll learn from fourteen-year-old George Washington about his Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour (such as "Do not laugh too much or too loud in public."); you'll read the testimony of an accused witch from the Salem witch trials; and you'll hear about the terrible conditions African slaves suffered when they were brought to America, from one of the slaves who survived. You'll also find out about what led up to the Boston Tea Party, what happened to the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and the daring mission of the first submarine (in 1776!). From Columbus's letter describing his first voyage to America to the Constitution of the United States, Colonies and Revolution presents a wealth of period documents, including diaries, letters, articles, advertisements, speeches, and more, from both famous figures and ordinary citizens. Find out how all of these American voices working together helped to make this country what it is today.

For most bills in American legislature, the issue of turf - or which committee has jurisdiction over a bill - is crucial. This study explains how jurisdictional areas for committees are created and changed in Congress, and dissects the politics of "turf-grabbing". Political scientists have long maintained that jurisdictions are relatively static, changing only at times of dramatic reforms. David King disagrees with this premise and, combining quantitative evidence with interviews and case studies, he shows how ongoing turf wars make jurisdictions fluid. He argues that jurisdictional change stems both from legislators seeking electoral advantage and from nonpartisan House parliamentarians referring ambiguous bills to committees with the expertise to handle the issues. King shows how parliamentarians have become institutional guardians of the legislative process.

The "Dust Bowl" describes both a time in American history (mid-1930s) and a region (the Great Plains). Severe weather, misuse of land by farmers, and economic pressures from the Great Depression meant that farmers and families in a large area of the central U.S. were faced with loss of usable land, lack of work, and poverty. This is their story, told in their words and in photographs. Included are newspaper accounts, letters, interviews, memoirs, songs, government documents, FDR's Second New Deal, and an excerpt from Steinbeck's "Grapes of Wrath."

It's important to learn about the U.S. presidents, but it's even better to have fun while doing it. "Have Fun with the Presidents" is filled with activities, recipes, games, puzzles, profiles, quotes, and fascinating facts, about all 42 American presidents, from George Washington to George W. Bush.

You will learn all kinds of interesting things about the presidents, their families, and the times in which they lived, but this is much more than just a book of facts. The games and activities in "Have Fun with the Presidents" will give you a better understanding of each president's important contributions, interesting hobbies, and unique personality.

In "Have Fun with the Presidents" you will learn thatHerbert Hoover and his wife spoke Chinese in the White House as a way of maintaining their privacyDwight Eisenhower was an enthusiastic cook who loved grilling on the roof of the White HouseTwo of Theodore Roosevelt's sons managed to sneak a pony into a White House elevator so they could take it to their sick brother's bedroomGeorge H.W. Bush hated broccoli so much he had it banned from the White House kitchenAnd much more

Confidence in American government has been declining for three decades. Three-quarters of Americans said they trusted the Federal government to do the right thing in 1964. Today, only a quarter do. Why the decline? Is this mistrust a healthy reflection of America's long-lasting skepticism of a strong state? Is mistrust a problem for the future of governance?

Bringing together essays by leading Harvard scholars, this book explores the roots of mistrust. It first examines government's current scope, its actual performance, and citizens' perceptions of its performance. It then assesses many possible explanations that have been offered for the decline of trust, including the end of the Cold War, elevated expectations following World War II, a weakened economy, the effects of globalization, resentment over political scandals, and incompetence of bureaucrats. The book clarifies thinking about the sources of public disaffection.

Mistrust, the contributors find, is largely unrelated to national economic conditions, to challenges of a global economy, to the Cold War, or to bumbling bureaucrats and venal politicians. Rather, they show that the most likely culprits are all around us--an interacting blend of cultural and political conflicts stirred by an increasingly corrosive news media.