Neil A. Hamilton – författare

The years between the first world war and the great stock market crash marked the arrival of the United States of America as a world military, business, scientific, and cultural leader. Americans from all stripes and in all fields achieved great notoriety. Babe Ruth, Margaret Sanger, Duke Ellington, Alfred Stieglitz, Aimee Semple McPherson, Woodrow Wilson, Clarence Darrow, Langston Hughes, and Henry Ford are just a few of the luminaries who shined on the world's stage. Combining substantial biographical accounts of 60 Americans who influenced or represented their times with portraits and other photographs and up to five often hard-to-find primary documents written by or relating to the subject, Lifetimes offers readers a comprehensive account of the person's life and work and first-hand accounts of what they thought and what other people thought about them. This all-in-one biographical resource is perfect for students and anyone interested in this pivotal era in American history.Among the Americans included in the volume who made a profound impact on society are music greats Louis Armstrong, George Gershwin, and Bessie Smith; sports stars Jack Dempsey, Knute Rockne, and Helen Wills; writer Gertrude Stein, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Ernest Hemingway; scientists or inventors Edwin Armstrong and George and Gladys Dick; leaders for women's rights Carrie Chapman Catt and Alice Paul; social and political leaders Emma Goldman, Marcus Garvey, and Eugene Debs; movie stars Clara Bow, Charlie Chaplin, and Anna May Wong, and notorious figures like Al Capone or Sacco and Vanzetti. Each entry contains a biography of 750-1500 words, the portrait, other photographs, primary documents featuring items such as Al Smith's response to charges that he was not fit to be president because he was Catholic, or the NAACP's attack on the racial stereotypes portrayed in D.W. Griffith's epic, Birth of a Nation, and sources for further reading. The volume ends with an analytical index.

Rebels and Renegades examines 350 years of history through the eyes of the uncompromising. Presented in nine clearly written chronological chapters, this comprehensive reference covers the major events and personalities in the history of extremism in the U.S. Besides chronicling the event itself, entries, ranging from 500 to 1000 words, include background information and historic effects. In addition to the chronology, sidebars highlight historical, biographical, cultural, and ethical aspects of the story, tying the past to the present. Topics include the influence of radical idea on the mainstream, the role of violence in radicalism, and the evolving relationship between radicals and the media. An extensive appendix of excerpts, transcripts, and full source documents round out the work. To see the Introduction, a list of detailed contents, a generous selection of sample pages, and more, visit the Rebels and Renegades website.

Rebels and Renegades examines 350 years of history through the eyes of the uncompromising. Presented in nine clearly written chronological chapters, this comprehensive reference covers the major events and personalities in the history of extremism in the U.S. Besides chronicling the event itself, entries, ranging from 500 to 1000 words, include background information and historic effects. In addition to the chronology, sidebars highlight historical, biographical, cultural, and ethical aspects of the story, tying the past to the present. Topics include the influence of radical idea on the mainstream, the role of violence in radicalism, and the evolving relationship between radicals and the media. An extensive appendix of excerpts, transcripts, and full source documents round out the work. To see the Introduction, a list of detailed contents, a generous selection of sample pages, and more, visit the Rebels and Renegades website.

The president of the United States is a highly visible public figure, a bearer of immense responsibility, and the subject of intense scrutiny. He is accountable for war, economic depression, domestic strife, national security, partisan politics, and overseas conflict. Presidents, Third Edition closely examines the hopes and disappointments, the victories and defeats, and the integrity and weaknesses of the men who have held this office. Featuring up-to-date information, including the January 2009 inauguration of Barack Obama, the first African-American president of the United States, this edition is an expertly written, detailed reference that narrates and explains the lives and careers of America's presidents. It is an essential guide for anyone seeking a complete understanding of the development and workings of the United States government, as well as a great read for students fascinated by the interplay of politics, power, career, and legacy. Comprehensive and accessible, Presidents, Third Edition contains biographies and portraits of all presidents, a detailed chronology of the life of each president, and suggested further reading about each president.

The 1960s counterculture challenged the mainstream practices that dominated the 1950s, producing such groups as the hippies, Diggers, the National Organization for Women, and the American Indian Movement, all of which demanded societal change. The A–Z entries in this volume provide fascinating details on notable persons who stirred alternative ideas such as Betty Friedan, Abbie Hoffman, Andy Warhol, and Stokely Carmichael; events such as Woodstock, the Moratorium, and various be-ins; and new directions in music, art, clothing, and language.