American History
The true stories of the Fire Fighters of Engine 40, Ladder 35 who responded to the Twin Towers on 9/11 and the tales of their serving friends and family.
Mexican War - President Polk's War
This is an excellent and very readable history of the almost forgotten Mexican War of 1845 to 1848, with very many interesting details about President Polk, his powerful and politically savvy first lady Sara Polk, the great orator Henry Clay, and the very early years of young Abraham Lincoln, a raw representative from Illinois.
It is a fast read of only 283 pages, with many extensive pages of notes and bibliography, which reflects the years of research that Penn State University history professor Amy Greenberg put in before publication in 2012.
Usually only cursory attention is given to this war in the typical high school history class, in spite of its significance in setting the stage for the greater Civil War soon to follow. There are many interesting details about the Mexican war young officers named William Sherman, Robert E. Lee, Ulysses Grant, and older generals such as Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott, not just about their actions, but in their beliefs at that time revealed in their letters. Abraham Lincoln [a Whig] got the nickname "Spotty Ranchero" at this time, and Mexico ceded California to us just 3 months before the gold discovery at Sutter's mill!
This book is recommended for anyone interested in a more detailed knowledge and understanding of US history in the 19th century.
Adams vs. Jefferson: The Tumultuous Election of 1800
Remember the election of 2000, when the Bush-Gore battle went unresolved for a full month after the voting? That race had nothing on the campaign of 1800, which ended in an actual tie. In that year, the incumbent president, John Adams, was running against his own vice president, Thomas Jefferson. Once friends who had worked together to draft the Declaration of Independence, the two men had come to detest each other. It was one of the dirtiest campaigns ever, with Adams accused of trying to set up a monarchy in collusion with the British, while Jefferson was charged with being an atheist and spy for the French. Adding to the drama, Jefferson’s running mate, Aaron Burr, was working with the opposition to supplant Jefferson at the top of the ticket. It’s a fascinating story, well told in Adams vs. Jefferson: The Tumultuous Election of 1800.
Wicked River: The Mississippi When it Last Ran Wild
One might want to describe this book as “history through storytelling” and Sandlin makes history come alive. All kinds of interesting facts are discovered including an earthquake which happened on the river; the wreck of the Sultana where more people lost their lives than on the better known Titanic; and the caves people constructed under their existing homes to keep away the enemy in Civil War-era Vicksberg. Engrossing.
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