Brutality and fear. Heroism and sacrifice. Military history is a fascinating, complex and often contradictory subject. War and fighting between tribes, clans, groups and countries has been with us forever. Great leaders, great villains, pivotal moments and events become transformative, causing political, social and technological upheavals, which were often built on the foundation of war. The Handy Military History Answer Book is a captivating, concise and convenient look at how the world, the United States and modern society think about conflict.

To understand the United States of America, learning the past and present of each of the 50 states is crucial. Loaded with intriguing questions and answers, The Handy State-by-State Answer Book is an unusually engaging reference that you can read straight through, or pick and choose the states that interest you most. The unique format presents a clear and captivating tour of each American state, its history, significant people, and events, both past and present. A great gift, it is the go-to guide for students, teachers and general readers.

Beginning with the economic, political, and social forces behind the conflict, continuing to the first shots fired at Fort Sumter, the military strategies, battles, and people, and following Lee's surrender at Appomattox to the reconstruction and modern aftermath, "The Handy Civil War Answer Book" is a captivating, concise, and convenient history of American's defining conflict.
From the biggest events and battles to the lesser known warriors and women, "The Handy Civil War Answer Book" presents the war, its participants, and historical significance in an accessible, enjoyable, question-and-answer format. The strategies of Lee, Sherman, and Grant; the key battles, including Gettysburg, Chattanooga, and Chancellorsville; the weapons, the prices of everything from a bale of cotton to a box of ashes; and the fascinating stories of the women, children, and soldiers affected by the carnage are explained and explored. Photos, battlefield maps, and a chronology of major events contribute to the understanding of the War between the States.
"The Handy Civil War Answer Book" answers over 900 questions, from the mostly widely asked to the more obscure, such as:
How did the Mexican War influence Americans of the 1850s?
How many people had their minds changed by Uncle Tom's Cabin?
Did Jefferson Davis really mean it--was he sincere--when he used words like "liberty" and "freedom"?
What did people mean when they said Lincoln had the style of a buffoon and the "brain of a giant"?
What was Robert E. Lee's connection to George Washington?
How does Lincoln's 1860 election stack up when compared to other major election races?
What is nullification? What is secession? How closely are they linked?
Was there any technical or technological area in which the South held an advantage?
How could General Ambrose Burnside have made such a calamitous error at the Battle of Fredericksburg?
Who were the first black soldiers in the Civil War?
What was so important about the Homestead Act?
Was there any precedent for the Siege of Vicksburg?
Who was Junius Brutus Booth?
Would North and South have been reconciled if Lincoln were not assassinated?
What was, or is, the Solid South?
What happened to the centennial celebrations of the Civil War?

The word mohawk means many things to different people: a river, a valley, a tribe, even a type of haircut. Just as Sioux conjures up an image of the Great Plains, horses, and war bonnets, the name Mohawk often summons images of the Northeast Woodland, gushing streams, and the tomahawk. In recent times, the Mohawk have added iron and steel work to their traditional art of basket weaving, and one is as likely to find a Mohawk on the streets of Manhattan or Montreal as in the woodlands. Like other Native American tribes, their lives were disrupted forever when Europeans arrived in the 17th century. Today the tribe continues to struggle to hold on to their land and traditions. Read about the Mohawk in this new title, complete with vivid photographs, an engaging narrative, and helpful reference features.

Edwards was a major figure in the Great Awakening religious movement that spread throughout the colonies of North American in the eighteenth century.

Discusses the effects of the invention of the printing press on language, religion, science, society, and everyday life.

Describes the history, geography, government, economy, people, and culture of Pakistan.

This new series examines the lives of people who have had a major impact on the history or current practice of religion. Individuals profiled include clergy of diverse faiths as well as lay people who have had a profound intellectual influence on religious and philosophical thought. As a hermit monk, it would have been likely that Thomas Merton would have lived and died relatively unknown. Because of his incredible talent for writing, though, his ideas reached huge audiences across the United States and the rest of the world, making him one of the best-known Christian theologians of the twentieth century.

Few have worn their team colors as proudly as No. 7, the longtime quarterback of the Denver Broncos. First arriving at Denver in 1983, John Elway stayed for 16 seasons that ran the gamut from spectacular to dismal. He became as identified with Denver as Johnny Unitas with Baltimore, Terry Bradshaw with Pittsburgh, and Roger Staubach with Dallas. Despite a career featuring more than 300 touchdown passes and more than 51,000 passing yards, the road to success was not easy. Elway appeared in, and lost, three Super Bowls during the late 1980s. Critics lampooned his big salary and small results, overlooking the fact he had won five AFC championships along the way. Redemption finally came in the late 1990s, when an aged Elway won two Super Bowls, one of which is considered to be one of the most competitive and exciting of them all. Now, the retired Hall of Famer benefits various charities for disadvantaged youth in Colorado.

There were moments in Ariel Sharon's astonishingly successful military career when he had an incredible way of pulling victory from the jaws of defeat. But he has also been blasted for actions that have led to the deaths of civilians. Even so, Sharon overcame his opposition and adversity to become Israel's prime minister in 2001. At age 72, this was a remarkable achievement; of other modern leaders, only Ronald Reagan and Nelson Mandela were around that age when first elected to their nations' highest office. ""Ariel Sharon"" is an in-depth biography of this controversial world leader, whose massive stroke and subsequent coma in January 2006 further complicated the already precarious scenario in the Middle East. Succinct text, engaging full-color photographs, and a comprehensive index make this title the ideal go-to reference for students eager to learn more about this key figure in contemporary international affairs.

Best known for Utopia, describing communal ownership of land, the education of men and women alike, and religious toleration.

The Boston Tea Party of 1773 is the most famous incidence of "tea parties" held to protest the British government and its taxes on the American colonies. British leaders and the British people marveled at the excitement of the Americans over a tax of merely three pence, while Americans fumed at the arrogance of their Old World countrymen in their attempts to rule them from afar without proper representation in government. In the end, the conflict was almost as much about words and misunderstandings as about the tea itself. From that time comes the modern phrase "a tempest in a teapot," which accurately describes the sensations of the two years that preceded the American Revolution. The Boston Tea Party ably describes the events and participants of this American protest, as well as its significance in the scheme of American independence.

Thanks to cowboy-and-Indian movies of the 1950s and 1960s, the Cheyenne are among the best known of all Indian tribes. The moviegoer can readily picture the fast-moving Cheyenne, mounted on handsome horses, battling the U.S. Cavalry. While that image is indeed part of the story, the Cheyenne tribe is about much more than 19th-century warfare. The Cheyenne have persevered through strange and difficult times to emerge as one of the best adapted of all Great Plains peoples. They fought the U.S. Army with considerable success, but after the eventual defeat, the Cheyenne changed to a life of cattle herding and Plains farming, with tractors and harvesters as much a part of their lives as horses and war bonnets. The Cheyenne covers the storied history of this highly recognizable tribe, from its origins to its interactions with Europeans and later the U.S. government, to its place in the United States today.

La Salle is one of the best-known but least-understood explorers of human history. Celebrated for following the Mississippi to its mouth in present-day Louisiana, he was also berated for failing to relocate that same area when he came by sea. Justly known as the greatest of the canoe-carrying and paddle-wielding Frenchmen of his time, he was a failure when it came to colonization and conquest. There was greatness within him, including a powerful will to succeed, but there was also sheer stubbornness, which cost him when he attempted to create a French colony in what is now Texas. In Robert de La Salle, read about a man whose journeys encouraged explorers from other European nations to survey the southeastern United States.

After two years of training with the British Mount Everest Expedition, Edmund Hillary, along with Nepalese Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, completed the challenging climb to become the first men to reach the summit of the world's highest peak, Mount Everest, on May 29, 1953. But this historic achievement didn't mean the end of Hillary's adventures. In 1955, he led a party across Antarctica by snow tractor, pioneering a new route to the South Pole. Hillary followed this up by leading several expeditions to the Himalayas, and establishing the Himalayan Trust, which has funded more than 30 schools in Nepal, as well as hospitals, medical clinics, and airstrips. Knighted by Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain, Hillary was also granted honorary citizenship in Nepal. In Sir Edmund Hillary, learn about this daring explorer and his accomplishments.

Known as the "Angel of the Battlefield" for her efforts during the American Civil War, Clara Barton is remembered today as a pioneering nurse and humanitarian. By the end of the 19th century, she was one of the most highly regarded American women on the planet, having brought relief to those suffering in wars and disasters the world over. Frightened as a child, insecure as an adult, and perpetually worried about her image, Barton was a thoroughly modern hero beset by difficulties, including those of her own making. In Clara Barton: Humanitarian, read about this brave nurse and founder of the American Red Cross.

Ulysses S. Grant is a puzzling figure in American history. The 18th president of the United States had rampant corruption associated with his administration, but he was a decorated war hero famous for turning serious attacks by the Confederate Army into victories for the Union and for implementing simultaneous attacks against the South that led to its surrender. He became a national figure overnight when he captured Forts Henry and Donelson and was given the nickname 'Unconditional Surrender' Grant after 12,000 Confederates surrendered under his harsh conditions of 'no terms except unconditional and immediate surrender'.After the war, Grant achieved the distinction of being promoted to the equivalent of a four-star general. In recent years, his reputation as president has improved somewhat among scholars due to his support for civil rights and his prosecution of the Ku Klux Klan. Grant also signed a bill into law making Christmas a federal holiday in 1870, and another that created America's first national park, Yellowstone, in 1872.

This is the captivating biography of a football superstar.Quarterback Peyton Manning's career symbolizes family, faith, and competitiveness. The son of former NFL great Archie Manning and the older brother of Eli Manning, he has made the Indianapolis Colts his extended family as well. Although he possesses a good deal of natural talent, Manning struggled on many occasions throughout his career. To his detractors, he was the spoiled kid of doting parents, the antithesis of the ""self-made football player."" Manning earned his way to football greatness in Miami in 2007 after leading the Colts to their first Super Bowl win in 36 years. This fascinating biography explores the life of the only player in his career to be named NFL MVP, Super Bowl MVP, and Pro Bowl MPV. Off the gridiron, Manning's PeyBack Foundation supports leadership programs for disadvantaged youth in Indiana, Tennessee, and Louisiana, displaying his dedication to family and family values.This captivating, colorful biography traces Manning's childhood, influences, and personal life, and is complete with full-color photographs, informative sidebars, a bibliography, and much more.

Although Barry Sanders earned all-state honors in high school football, many college recruiters overlooked him because of his height. Undeterred, Sanders used his size to his advantage for the rest of his career. Accepting a scholarship from Oklahoma State University, he set several college football records and earned the Heisman Trophy as 1988's most outstanding player. In only his junior year of college, he was the third overall pick in the NFL draft, where he was selected to play for the Detroit Lions. He stayed with the Lions for his entire career and achievedPro Bowl status in all of his 10 seasons as a pro. At the age of 30, still healthy and a season away from topping Walter Payton's career rushing record, Sanders stunned fans when he unexpectedly announced his retirement from the game. In addition to spending time with his family, this former MVP and NFL record-holder now raises funds for various charities, including those for scleroderma, a chronic connective tissue disease.

Early in 1898, the battleship USS Maine was sent to Havana. Supposedly undertaken to protect U.S. interests in Cuba, this action was a blatant effort to change Spanish colonial policies. Then, on the night of February 15, the Maine blew up in Havana Harbor with the loss of 260 lives. Though the exact cause of the explosion was unknown, the loss of the Maine became the focal point for Americans who sought war. The cry 'Remember the Maine - to hell with Spain!' swept the country, and the day after the board of inquiry's report come out, President William McKinley sent Madrid an ultimatum, which led directly to the U.S. declaration of war against Spain in April. This book examines the historical circumstances leading up the destruction of the Maine, the immediate aftermath, and the long-term consequences.

The family values movement is a conservative movement that strongly supports traditional social values. Since 1980, the Republican Party has used the issue of family values to attract voters, and such organizations as the Christian Coalition and the American Family Association have tied the movement to Christianity and thus believe that Christian values should play more important roles in everyday society. This new book offers students an objective look at this important movement, which has wielded great influence on the political landscape as well as attracted major controversy from its critics.