Stories in American History

In the Civil War, the Union's victory over the Confederacy was largely due in part to the superior Northern railroads, which kept the military stocked with supplies. As a result, the United States realized the great value of a transcontinental railroad and pushed to connect the east with the west. Author R. Conrad Stein tells the stories of those who, whether motivated by money and greed or by idealism and dedication to a lofty goal, played a part in creating a railroad that would unite a country.

In the nineteenth century, over half a million men, women and children traveled west on the Oregon Trail. Stretching two thousand miles from Independence Missouri, to the Pacific Northwest, the Oregon Trail was the longest overland route used in the westward expansion. Crossing mountains and deserts, fighting disease, short of both food and water, pioneers endured many hardships to follow the trail west with their hopes and dreams of seeking fortunes in the unsettled west. Author Rebecca Stefoff traces the roots of the Oregon and California Trails back to the seventeenth century, telling the stories of those who left the security and comfort of their homes, to endure months of hard travel in the hope of a new life.

The battle for the Alamo has become one of the most famous conflicts in American history. In 1836, General Santa Ana led troops in a battle to defend the Alamo, a Spanish-built mission in San Antonio. This battle escalated between American pioneers and Mexican troops into a fight for Texan Independence from Mexico. Author Roy Sorrels narrates the battle for control between Texans and Mexicans.

Thousands of American soldiers were dying and millions more combatants and civilians were perishing during World War II. Some of the world's greatest scientists escaped their own war-torn countries and fled to the Unites States. These scientists discovered a possible way to end the war. Thus began the three-year experiment resulting in the production and use of the atomic bomb. Author Doreen Gonzales examines the creation of this powerful weapon and its place in the history of World War II. She presents the political, scientific and social issues surrounding the bomb, and looks at today's issues about living in a world with nuclear weapons.

In 1848, gold was discovered in California. This exciting news spread eastward. People from all walks of life with dreams of enormous riches packed up their belongings and left their comfortable homes behind in search of the hidden treasure. Author Linda Jacobs Altman describes the development of this rugged world of the mining towns, which sparked the development of California. Altman also highlights the stories of prospectors, bandits and thrill seekers who make up the legend and the myth of the time.

Thousands of courageous African Americans escaped from slavery in the South along what became known as "The Underground Railroad." The railroad provided a secret way to transport slaves to freedom in the Northern states and Canada. Author Kem Knapp Sawyer captures the courage and determination of many fugitives who traveled the Underground Railroad to freedom. Knapp brings the dangers faced by escaped slaves and those who helped them along the way into detailed focus. The success of the Underground Railroad shows the resolve of many whites and blacks to end slavery in the United States.