Jeff Wallenfeldt: 18 books

Characterized largely by expansionism, economic growth, and social and political reform, the period in American history following the War of 1812 proved advantageous to a number of Americans. Even as many industries flourished, political unrest remained on the horizon as legislators debated the issue...

The New World, as the land that comprises the United States was once known, held the promise of opportunity and changing fortunes for those who discovered and colonized it. Even before becoming an independent nation, the land proved to be a bounteous yet challenging home. This lively volume recounts...

The newly reunified United States experienced a tenuous peace following the American Civil War. It was a period characterized by great technological advances, but also by increased political, economic, and social polarization. This penetrating look at American history between the Civil War and 20th...

Despite its comparatively small size, England has been a nation of considerable stature on the international stage for much of its history. As the home of parliamentary government, William Shakespeare, and the English language, England has been an influential player in the political and cultural development...

Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales—storied lands that have sparked the global imagination through their legends and centuries-old traditions—often seem to be eclipsed by the neighboring England. While there are many similarities between them, each is culturally distinct, with languages, traditions,...

From the abolitionists and civil rights leaders who struggled to secure basic freedoms to the scientists, entertainers, and public servants who have nurtured innovation in their respective fields, African Americans have broken critical barriers for every American. This volume profiles many of those...

When rock and roll first burst onto the scene in the 1950s, it was more than a new form of music—it was a rebellion against the past. With the music of such artists as Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Little Richard, and the Supremes came a new attitude that allowed fans—many of them young—to look...

The music of the 1960s is perhaps as memorable as the historical milestones of the era. Timeless bands, such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, emerged from England while the U.S. saw the rise of such folk musicians as Bob Dylan and the explosion of soul, with such legends as Aretha Franklin and...

Many Americans buoy their national pride and patriotism in the tableau of the American Revolution—in which every day men rose up against taxation from abroad to defeat one of the most powerful countries in the world at the time. From the midnight ride of Paul Revere to the cold winter at Valley...

Struggling against unjust taxation and British intervention in colonial affairs, the colonies that would come to be part of the United States of America were ripe for revolution in the late eighteenth century. Led by impassioned individuals, Americans waged a series of protests against the British...

At the expense of basic human rights, dignity, and decency, Africans were torn from their native countries and first brought to the United State as slaves. Yet even in the face of injustice and hardship they have endured since then, African Americans have been bolstered by the sacrifices, leadership,...

So rapid has been the growth of the United States since the mid-20th century and so profound the changes it has experienced that its current superpower status in the world sometimes obscures the radical social, political, economic, and technological transformations it has experienced in that time....

The American Civil War hit close to home as it pitted brother against brother, Americans fighting one another to defend their differing beliefs. Years of war were followed by a subsequent period of Reconstruction, wherein the nation tried to piece itself back together in an uneasy political climate—a...

Although the independent Irish republic emerged only relatively recently, its rich history and cultural bounties date back centuries. The Irish have long endured strife, struggling against external control—notably English rule—as well as against infighting, often between Roman Catholics and Protestants....