Brett Griffin – författare

The Treaty of Versailles sought to punish Germany and its allies for their actions in World War I. Deemed too harsh even by some allied experts, Germany’s economy was left devastated, the repercussions of which did not sit well with the populace and instead gave rise to people and concepts that would challenge and devastate the world less than two decades later. This book delves into the political history of the Weimar Republic and the rise of Fascism, discusses how these events led to World War II, and examines their aftereffects on the world today.

Sitting Bull, a Sioux chief, lived a life filled with difficulty and determination. He was alive during a time of great hardship for Native Americans in the western United States, when Native communities were being pushed from their homelands onto territory in the South. This is his remarkable story of staunch resistance and perseverance.

The waning years of the nineteenth century saw the emergence of a new kind of journalism in the United States, one that not only challenged government and corporate power, but also turned to sordid crimes and scandals for much of its material. Sensational, shocking, and lurid, this new style of reporting came to be known as "yellow journalism." The trend influenced newspapers across the country, and its role in building public support for the Spanish-American War has become the stuff of legend. The supplemental features of this book, including striking photographs, primary sources, and informative sidebars, trace the development of yellow journalism and demonstrate its impact today.

The country of Liberia boasts a rich history and a vibrant culture. Founded as a home for former slaves and free blacks from the United States and the Caribbean, Liberia is unique among its African neighbors as the political, economic, and social structures of the country are derived from both American and African traditions. Detailed photographs and insightful sidebars accompany the text and allow the reader to learn about the challenges facing Liberia today, as well as the customs, cuisine, and artistic contributions of the Liberian people.

Though the United States is often referred to as "a nation of immigrants," the history of migration to, and settlement in, America is much more tumultuous than such a simple descriptor implies. This history encompasses not just the hopeful Europeans that famously passed through Ellis Island in the late nineteenth century, but Central and South Americans fleeing poverty and violence in the twentieth century, as well as refugees from war-torn regions in Asia and the Middle East. It also includes the hundreds of thousands of African slaves imported to the New World during the colonial era and the Native American peoples who were displaced by settlers. Through pictures and primary sources, this book explores different aspects of migration and settlement in American history and demonstrates how the legacies of immigration restriction, chattel slavery, western conquest, and manifest destiny continue to define the country today.