Steve Wiegand - U.S. History For Dummies

U.S. History For Dummies, 4th Edition

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Copyright 2019 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey

Published simultaneously in Canada

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2019931104

ISBN 978-1-119-55069-3 (pbk); ISBN 978-1-119-55073-0 (ePDF); ISBN 978-1-119-55074-7 (epub)

1. Chapter 3
2. Chapter 4
3. Chapter 5
4. Chapter 7
5. Chapter 8
6. Chapter 9
7. Chapter 10
8. Chapter 13
9. Chapter 15
10. Chapter 17
11. Chapter 18
12. Chapter 19
13. Chapter 21

Those who cannot remember the past, said American philosopher George Santayana, are condemned to repeat it.

Generally in the 12th grade.

Lots of people think of learning U.S. history as a punishment. Its just a subject you had to take in school. You memorized a bewildering array of dates, absorbed definitions for terms like Manifest Destiny, and wondered whether America really needed two presidents named Harrison. Historical figures were presented as if they were characters in a junior high school costume pageant. Their blemishes were airbrushed out, and their personalities were drained away.

Sure, you were taught George Washington warned the country about foreign entanglements in his Farewell Address. But it might have been more interesting to also learn he never actually gave that speech. It was printed in the newspapers. Washington didnt like giving speeches, partly because of his false teeth, which were not made of wood but of hippopotamus ivory.

Alas, textbooks often overlook the fascinating moments and details of U.S. history. They present it as something dry and distant events, facts, trends, movements and dont focus on what it really is. U.S. history is the story of people: what they thought, did, and tried to do; what they ate and drank; what made them angry; and what made them laugh.

This book is not a textbook, nor is it an exhaustive encyclopedia covering everything that ever happened in the United States. Instead, it focuses on people: famous and infamous, well-known and obscure. It gives you a basic foundation of information about U.S. history. You can use it as a handy reference. Haul it off the shelf to settle an argument or to start one.

Which brings me to a key point. This book is not 100 percent, straight-down-the-middle-youll-agree-with-everything objective. Although Ive tried to stick to the facts or at least the most widely accepted historical interpretations of the facts the bottom line is that my own thoughts, biases, and interpretations will inevitably intrude. It happens in every nonfiction book ever written. Sorry. If you think something is factually wrong, please let me know. If you just dont agree with something, object. Youre reaffirming one of the best things about America: the right to freely express indignation.

Because U.S. history hasnt always been bright and shining, especially when it comes to topics such as slavery or the treatment of Native Americans, this book doesnt always deal with pleasant or uplifting subjects. Some of what you read may anger you, sadden you, or even make you feel a little ashamed. In that regard, Americas history shares something in common with just about every country ever. But the truth is that overall, Americas story is a positive one. For a nation in its third century, America still does a whole lot of things right. One of them is recognizing past mistakes and generally and sometimes gradually striving to do better.

Enough time on the soapbox. Im also happy to report you can find things in this book that you wont find in other U.S. history books (which may or may not be a good thing, depending on your sense of humor or taste for trivia). Although they may be of little importance in the overall scheme of things, theyre kind of fun to know and trot out at dinner with your boring in-laws. Some examples: the Civil War general whose name helped to popularize a common term for prostitutes (Joseph Hooker); which canned meat product helped win World War II (Spam); and the major league baseball team that overcame the curse of a man with a goat (Chicago Cubs). And if youre a history purist, I think theres a mention of Manifest Destiny in here somewhere.