This work is a creative approach to history that not only recounts what actually happened during the Civil War, but also imagines alternate outcomes had key events turned out differently, and how they might have changed the course of American history. In colorful, readable prose, this volume provides a full history of the Civil War—including John Brown's raid; the story of the Confederate States of America; the battles of Bull Run, Antietam, and Gettysburg; Sherman's March to the Sea; the Emancipation Proclamation; the Thirteenth Amendment; Lincoln's assassination; Reconstruction; and Andrew Johnson's impeachment. But more importantly, it offers a range of essays on how events could have turned out differently—militarily, politically, and culturally. It challenges students and general readers alike to remember that the course of history is not preordained. Instead, history is "made " in critical moments of decision by those who choose one course of action over another. Their choices—and the outcomes of those choices—could easily have been different.

Offering a unique approach to studying one of the most eventful eras in American history, this volume looks at a dozen key events of the 1960s and 1970s and considers the possible paths history might have taken if the outcomes had been different. This volume in the Turning Points-Actual and Alternative Histories series looks at a tumultuous recent era in American history, a time when pivotal, often tragic, world-changing events seemed to be happening at an alarming rate. America in Revolt during the 1960s and 1970s looks at 12 significant events, from the assassination of John F. Kennedy to the passage of the Civil Rights Act, from the student killings at Kent State to Richard Nixon's resignation. Drawing on the concepts of alternative history, the book portrays each event as it happened, then considers some plausible alternative scenarios of how history would have been different if these events had not occurred. It is a uniquely thought provoking way of exploring an explosive era, whose aftershocks continue to shape the American experience today. Contributions by 12 distinguished scholars with expertise in late-20th century American history Photographs evoking the United States of the 1960s and 1970s, with images of events and individuals from the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, the women's movement, campus protests, and more

In this unique reference, leading historians describe not only how the expansion of the American nation in the early 19th century was a turning point in U.S. history that led to the Civil War, but also alternative scenarios-what happened and what almost happened. This volume poses "what if" questions about ten crucial "tipping points" in the history of U.S. expansionism between 1800 and the Civil War. It not only describes what happened-in the case of Lewis and Clark, the War of 1812, the Monroe Doctrine, railroads and telegraphs, the Mexican War, the gold rush, the Compromise of 1850-it also offers alternative scenarios, essays on what could have happened. In this exciting and imaginative approach to history, students not only develop analytical skills by tracing the causes and effects of crucial events; they are empowered by the knowledge that at moments when history hangs in the balance, many paths are possible, and that they, as citizens, can tip the scale. Each chapter presents the actual history along with a "what if" scenario of what may have happened had a crucial point turned out differently Primary sources include the complete text of one of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and a chronology details key events during the Era of Expansion

This work is a fascinating history of precontact North America, presenting the facts and engaging the reader by using alternative history-what if key facts were different?-to help develop critical thinking skills. The first title in ABC-CLIO's groundbreaking series Turning Points-Actual and Alternate Histories delves into the history of North America before European contact. There is much classroom literature on Native Americans after first contact; there is little on the history before. This work fills that gap, detailing the thousands of years before Europeans arrived. Climate changes, major battles, technology, and settlement patterns-all played a part in shaping the pre-Columbian history of North America. This book takes eight key points in history, presents the facts as they happened, and examines what might have happened if there were different outcomes. Small changes can produce vastly different results; this book shows how, and engages students' critical thinking skills while teaching them basic history. Extensive chronology shows context for events and gives scope and coverage in single graphic presentation Eight original essays, written by distinguished scholars specializing in Native America, followed by discussion questions

This work is a thought-provoking look at the original 13 colonies, presenting the facts and engaging the reader by using alternate history-what if key events had turned out differently?-to help develop critical thinking skills. This entry in ABC-CLIO's exciting series Turning Points-Actual and Alternate Histories covers the development of the original 13 states, from first European contact up to the Revolutionary War. Using the fascinating tool of alternate history-postulating the course of events, had one key fact been different-the book engages students' imaginations and critical thinking skills. This critical period in American history is particularly suited to the alternative history approach: The population of the colonies was small, so the import of individual actions, or of singular events, was proportionately large. If the English had lost one battle to the Swedes, the United States might have been a Swedish colony. If James, Duke of York, had died of the plague in 1654, the U.S. and French revolutions might not have happened. Detailed chronology makes the entire era of coverage-first settlement to revolution-accessible at a glance Each chapter is followed by a bibliography to point students to additional information on the specific colony

This fascinating work is a series of explorations of key events in the adminstrations of Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush, each of which speculates on what might have happened if events had unfolded differently. The Reagan Era explores a time that saw the rise of the political conservatism that has dominated U.S. politics in recent years, as well as the end of the Cold War, which drove American foreign policy for nearly a half century. What if Jimmy Carter had successfully navigated the energy shortage and the Iranian hostage crisis? What if the assassination attempt on Reagan had succeed? What if Iran-Contra had not become a scandal? These are among the specific topics examined in the book, which looks at 11 crucial events and speculates on the effects of alternative outcomes. By showing how easily the world might be different, The Reagan Era reveals the lasting impact of that era's defining moments. Original essays by accomplished historians who are experts in analyzing the crucial events of the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush 50 photographs evoking America in the 1980s and early 1990s, including images of the Iranian hostage standoff, presidential campaigns, Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, Oliver North, and more