Seven Events That Made America America: And Proved That the Founding Fathers Were Right All Along

by Larry Schweikart

Overview

The bestselling coauthor of A Patriot’s History of the United States examines some of the pivotal—yet mostly ignored—moments that shaped our history.
 
Every schoolchild is taught the great turning points in American history, such as Gettysburg, Pearl Harbor, and 9/11. But other equally significant events have altered our destiny without being understood—or even widely noticed.

Acclaimed conservative historian Larry Schweikart now takes an in-depth look at seven such episodes—from Martin Van Buren’s creation of the first national political party to Dwight D. Eisenhower’s heart attack—and reveals the profound ways they have shaped America. He also asks readers to consider what the Founding Fathers would have said about these events and reminds us how individual liberty, private enterprise, and small government have made our country great.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781595230799
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	02/22/2011
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	650,438
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.34(h) x 0.73(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Larry Schweikart is the co-author of A Patriot's History of the United States: From Columbus's Great Discovery to the War on Terror, and is a professor of history at the University of Dayton. He has written more than 20 books on national defense, business, and financial history.

Table of Contents

Preface VII

Introduction 1

1 Martin Van Buren Has a Nightmare and Big Government is Born...in the 1820s! 5

2 The Dred Scott Decision Wrecks an Economy and Hastens a War 34

3 Johnstown Fights a Flood and Demonstrates the Power of Private Compassion 61

4 Ike has a Heart Attack, Triggering Dietary Nannyism 95

5 A Steel Guitar Rocks the Iron Curtain 117

6 Ronald Reagen Tries to Keep the Peace...and Makes His Biggest Mistake 151

7 Barry Makes a Speech...and the Media Gets Chills Up its Leg 188

Conclusion 212

Acknowledgments 217

Notes 219

Index 249

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Peter Berkrot's deep, clear voice is a pleasure." —-AudioFile

Editorial Reviews

One of the greatest of the Founders, George Mason...urged on his countrymen the duty of frequent ‘recurrence to fundamental principles.’ I believe that is what Mr. Schweikart has in mind here: recurrence while there’s time. Based on the evidence he lays before us, we'd better not stand there, daydreaming.”
—The Washington Times

“Schweikart has a powerful understanding of what might otherwise be overlooked aspects of history, and makes them relevant to the modern reader.”
—Intellectual Conservative

From the Publisher

If you suspect that almost everything you’ve ever heard about American history from the “Eastern elite,” the “mainstream media,” or your college professors is part of a liberal conspiracy hiding another truer story, then this book may be for you. Larry Schweikart spends much of his time bashing Democrats and proto-Democrats across the generations. All is fair in politics. Schweikart’s sweeping statements about the nature of Islam and Muslims (Event 6) are less forgivable—and more dangerous. Peter Berkrot’s deep, clear voice is a pleasure. However, Berkrot has to spend much of his time doing a creditable imitation of the sarcastic television attack ad voice-over. F.C. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

NOVEMBER 2010 - AudioFile