Other books that might interest you

• 

  Common Sense

  Thomas Paine

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  In 1775, the American colonies were a hotbed of political discord. Many of the British policies, specifically taxes, had caused American colonial leaders to consider the unthinkable: declaring independence from the British Empire and its King George. One such leader, Thomas Jefferson, wrote Common Sense: a pamphlet that explained the advantages of immediate and complete independence. In 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was signed, Common Sense became a national sensation, and has remained an important part of American history.

  Show book

• 

  1900 or the Last President - The...

  Ingersoll Lockwood

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  This little booklet was penned at the end of the 19th century, and ostensibly involves events mere years later. A work of political satire, it chastises the rise of socialism and populism, inferring their fictional rise here as disastrous and leading to chaos. 
  It is of note here that this work, along with others by Lockwood, appear to prognosticate the current political climate of the United States and West at large—and for an apparent religious Catholic of his era, it is not altogether impossible that Lockwood—wittingly or unwittingly—tapped into some mystic forces. Regardless, it is an interesting little political story from its time and is reflective of some of the social ideologies and movements of the age.

  Show book

• 

  Federalism - A Very Short...

  Mark J. Rozell, Clyde Wilcox

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Early Americans were suspicious of centralized authority and executive power. Casting away the yoke of England and its king, the founding fathers shared in this distrust as they set out to pen the Constitution. Weighing a need for consolidated leadership with a demand for states' rights, they established a large federal republic with limited dominion over the states, leaving most of the governing responsibility with the former colonies. With this dual system of federalism, the national government held the powers of war, taxation, and commerce, and the ability to pass the laws necessary to uphold these functions. 
  Although the federal role has grown substantially since then, states and local governments continue to perform most of the duties in civil and criminal law, business and professional licensing, the management of infrastructure and public services: roads, schools, libraries, sanitation, land use, and development, etc. Despite the critical roles of state and local governments, there is little awareness—or understanding—of the nature and operations of the federal system. 
  This Very Short Introduction provides a concise overview of federalism, from its origins and evolution to the key events and constitutional decisions that have defined its framework.

  Show book

• 

  Ruby Bridges

  PBS NewsHour

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  In 1960, 6-year-old Ruby Bridges became the first African American child to desegregate an elementary school. Thirty-seven years later, Ruby Bridges Hall discusses her memories of the first day she entered her new school in New Orleans, her first year when she was in a class of one, and her efforts to improve education. She spoke with Charlayne Hunter-Gault in this 1997 interview.

  Show book

• 

  Weaving the Roots - How to...

  William T. Hennessy

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  New from Broadside Books' Voices of the Tea Party. In Weaving the Roots, you'll learn how even tiny grassroots organizations can make big impacts on the world through smart use of free or inexpensive social media tools.First you'll learn the major tools, like Facebook, twitter, LinkedIn, Google Buzz, blogging, talk radio, and SMS text. How they work, how they work together, and how you can maximize your impact with a small team.Next, you'll explore five key activities for social networking and which tools work best: recruiting, informing, activating, advocating, coordinatingFinally, you'll find out the science behind social media. You'll get answers to questions that many don't know to ask, like what time of day to tweet or post on Facebook, which day of the week is best for which social channel, and how to announce an event to get lots of attendees without lots of time-consuming questions.

  Show book

• 

  Confronting Saddam Hussein -...

  Melvyn P. Leffler

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  America's decision to go to war in Iraq in 2003 is arguably the most important foreign policy choice of the entire post–Cold War era. Nearly two decades after the event, it remains central to understanding current international politics and US foreign relations.In Confronting Saddam Hussein, the eminent historian of US foreign policy Melvyn P. Leffler analyzes why the US chose war and who was most responsible for the decision. Employing a unique set of personal interviews with dozens of top officials and declassified American and British documents, Leffler vividly portrays the emotions and anxieties that shaped the thinking of the president after the shocking events of 9/11. He shows how fear, hubris, and power influenced Bush's approach to Saddam Hussein's Iraq. At the core of Leffler's account is his compelling portrait of Saddam Hussein. Rather than stressing Bush's preoccupation with promoting freedom or democracy, Leffler emphasizes Hussein's brutality, opportunism, and unpredictability and illuminates how the Iraqi dictator's record of aggression and intransigence haunted the president and influenced his calculations. Throughout, Leffler highlights the harrowing anxieties surrounding the decision-making process after the devastating attack on 9/11 and explains the roles of contingency, agency, rationality, and emotion.

  Show book