Amerikansk historie

"When Pamela Churchill Harriman died in 1997, the obituaries that followed were predictably scathing--and many were downright sexist. Written off as a mere courtesan and social climber, her true legacy was overshadowed by a glamorous social life and her infamous erotic adventures. Much of what she did behind the scenes--on both sides of the Atlantic--remained invisible and secret. That is, until now: with a wealth of fresh research, interviews, and newly discovered sources, Sonia Purnell unveils for the first time the full, spectacular story of how she left an indelible mark on the world today. ... There are few at any time who have operated as close to the center of power over five decades and two continents, and there is practically no one in 20th century politics, culture, and fashion whose lives she did not touch, including the Kennedys, Truman Capote, Aly Khan, Kay Graham, Gloria Steinem, Ed Murrow, and Frank Sinatra"--

For more than two centuries, the White House in Washington, DC, has been the stage for some of the most dramatic scenes in American history. In the signature style of the American History Tellers podcast, this book places readers in the point of view of the historical figures--power brokers and everyday Americans alike--who lived through such pivotal events as Andrew Jackson's disastrous 1829 inauguration, when a populist mob overran and trashed the White House; Woodrow Wilson's stroke, which led to his wife Edith serving as a shadow president during the final months of his administration; Abraham Lincoln's clandestine journey to Washington to dodge an assassination plot on the eve of the Civil War; Winston Churchill's wartime sojourn at the White House, during which he and FDR developed plans to defeat Germany; and Barack Obama's decision to green-light the daring Navy SEAL raid that killed Osama bin Laden.

A fascinating new history of America, told through the stories of a diverse cast of ten extraordinary--and often overlooked--adventurers, from Sacagawea to Matthew Henson to Sally Ride, who pushed the boundaries of discovery and determined our national destiny.The archetype of the American explorer, a rugged white man, has dominated our popular culture since the late eighteenth century, when Daniel Boone's autobiography captivated readers with tales of treacherous journeys. But our commonly held ideas about American exploration do not tell the whole story--far from it.The Explorers rediscovers a diverse group of Americans who went to the western frontier and beyond, traversing the farthest reaches of the globe and even penetrating outer space in their endeavor to find the unknown. Many escaped from lives circumscribed by racism, sexism, poverty, and discrimination as they took on great risk in unfamiliar territory. Born into slavery, James Beckwourth found freedom as a mountain man and became one of the great entrepreneurs of Gold Rush California. Matthew Henson, the son of African American sharecroppers, left rural Maryland behind to seek the North Pole. Women like Harriet Chalmers Adams ascended Peruvian mountains to gain geographic knowledge while Amelia Earhart and Sally Ride shattered glass ceilings by pushing the limits of flight.In The Explorers, readers will travel across the vast Great Plains and into the heights of the Sierra Nevada mountains; they will traverse the frozen Arctic Ocean and descend into the jungles of South America; they will journey by canoe and horseback, train and dogsled, airplane and space shuttle. Readers will experience the exhilarating history of American exploration alongside the men and women who shared a deep drive to discover the unknown.Across two centuries and many thousands of miles of terrain, Amanda Bellows offers an ode to our country's most intrepid adventurers--and reveals the history of America in the process.

Revealing hidden historical tales and lesser-known stories of Adirondack lore alongside hilarious descriptions of battling the elements in an attempt to climb each peak, Hiking History is a thoughtful and fascinating tour of the Adirondacks.

Peter Seaborg Award The heroics of black Union soldiers in the Civil War have been justly celebrated, but their postwar lives largely neglected. Donald Shaffer's illuminating study shines a bright light on this previously obscure part of African American history, revealing for the first time black veterans' valiant but often frustrating efforts to secure true autonomy and equality as civilians.After the Glory shows how black veterans' experiences as soldiers provided them for the first time with a sense of manliness that shaped not only their own lives but also their contributions to the African American community. Shaffer makes clear, however, that their postwar pursuit of citizenship and a dignified manhood was never very easy for black veterans, their triumphs frequently neither complete nor lasting Shaffer chronicles the postwar transition of black veterans from the Union army, as well as their subsequent life patterns, political involvement, family and marital life, experiences with social welfare, comradeship with other veterans, and memories of the war itself. He draws on such sources as Civil War pension records to fashion a collective biography-a social history of both ordinary and notable lives-resurrecting the words and memories of many black veterans to provide an intimate view of their lives and struggles.Like other African Americans from many walks of life, black veterans fought fiercely against disenfranchisement and Jim Crow and were better equipped to do so than most other African Americans. They carried a sense of pride instilled by their military service that made them better prepared to confront racism and discrimination and more respected in their own communities. As Shaffer reveals, they also had nearly equal access to military pensions, financial resources available to few other blacks, and even found acceptance among white Union veterans in the Grand Army of the Republic fraternity.After the Glory is not merely another tale of black struggles in a racist America; it is the story of how a select group of African Americans led a quest for manhood--and often found it within themselves when no one else would give it to them.

"Hospital Sketches" by Louisa May Alcott stands as a poignant testament to the human spirit amidst the turmoil of the American Civil War. This slim yet powerful volume encapsulates Alcott's firsthand experiences as a nurse, weaving together a collection of vivid narratives that offer an unfiltered glimpse into the stark realities of wartime hospitals and the resilient souls who inhabited them.In this autobiographical work, Alcott paints a vivid tableau of the Civil War era, transporting readers into the heart of the medical theaters where wounded soldiers fought not only for their lives but also for moments of solace amid the chaos of battle. Through her compassionate prose, she captures the palpable anguish, fortitude, and camaraderie that defined the lives of those in the hospitals.Each sketch within "Hospital Sketches" serves as a poignant vignette, illustrating the indomitable human spirit in the face of adversity. Alcott's keen observations and emotive storytelling offer glimpses into the lives of the soldiers and nurses, highlighting their struggles, moments of resilience, and the bonds forged in the crucible of war.At its core, "Hospital Sketches" transcends the historical confines of the Civil War, resonating as a timeless narrative that speaks to the universal themes of compassion, sacrifice, and the enduring human capacity for hope amidst despair. Alcott's perceptive accounts of the suffering and triumphs within the hospital walls serve as an enduring testament to the resilience of the human spirit, prompting introspection and fostering empathy across generations.This slender yet impactful volume remains a cornerstone of Civil War literature, offering readers a poignant and intimate portrayal of the profound human experiences that unfolded within the confines of wartime hospitals. "Hospital Sketches" stands as a timeless tribute to the unsung heroes and the resilience of the human heart in the face of adversity, etching itself as a literary beacon of compassion and empathy.

America is a land steeped in history and legend, and with that comes a wealth of unsolved mysteries that continue to captivate the public imagination. Here are five of the most intriguing and enduring mysteries in American history. 1. The D.B. Cooper skyjacking: In 1971, a man claiming to be D.B. Cooper hijacked a Boeing 727, extorted $200,000 in ransom, and then parachuted out of the plane, never to be seen again. Despite decades of investigation, his identity and fate remain unknown. 2. The Zodiac Killer: Between 1968 and 1969, a serial killer known as the Zodiac terrorized Northern California. He murdered at least five people and sent taunting letters to the press, including ciphers that have yet to be fully cracked. The Zodiac's identity remains one of the most famous cold cases in American history. 3. The disappearance of Amelia Earhart: In 1937, Amelia Earhart, a pioneering aviator, vanished over the Pacific Ocean during an attempt to circumnavigate the globe. Despite extensive searches, no trace of her or her plane was ever found. The mystery of her disappearance continues to fuel speculation and intrigue. 4. The Roswell UFO incident: In 1947, a rancher near Roswell, New Mexico, discovered debris from a crashed object. The initial press release by the United States Army Air Force declared it a flying disc, but later claimed it was a weather balloon. The true nature of the Roswell object remains a subject of debate and conspiracy theories. 5. The Black Dahlia: In 1947, the brutal murder of Elizabeth Short, a young woman who would become known as the Black Dahlia, shocked Los Angeles. The case remains unsolved, and the killer's identity has never been revealed. The gruesome details and unsolved nature of the crime have made it one of the most infamous unsolved murders in American history.

If you want to discover the captivating history of Wyoming, its vast landscapes, and its role in shaping the nation, then keep reading...Wyoming, a state often overshadowed by its majestic neighbors, holds secrets and stories that have remained untold for too long. But why, despite its significant role in the fabric of America, has Wyoming's intricate history been left in the shadows?Unraveling the tales of this state requires a dive into its rich past, from the footsteps of Native Americans to the booming industries of the 21st century. And now, in this comprehensive history book, you will journey through the heart of Wyoming and uncover the stories that have shaped its identity.Dive into this exploration and discover:The untold tales of the first explorers who set foot in Wyoming and what they unearthedThe battles and alliances formed over Wyoming's rich land and resourcesSurprising insights into the state's economic shifts and its dance between conservation and developmentWyoming's commitment to preserving its natural beauty and how this determination clashed and melded with economic pursuitsThe stories of the everyday people who called Wyoming home and how they navigated challenges, from the frontier days to modern timesThe rise and influence of Wyoming's iconic national parks and why they beckon millions each yearGroundbreaking moments in Wyoming's history and how they echo into the presentAnd so much more!Venture into the heart of Wyoming and uncover the tales that have woven the fabric of this resilient state.

What could best-selling author Brenda J. Thompson possibly find to write about in a small settlement at the top of the South Mountain in Nova Scotia?How about catastrophic collisions, obsessive love, hardscrabble struggles to survive, skinny-dipper showdowns, the worst fishing trip ever, unlikely visitors, desperate refugees, an ill-considered promise that changes two lives, and monsters in the woods?

This book argues first, that the forces of industrialization that transformed ship technology simultaneously transformed the working-class lives of merchant seamen, intensifying class conflict and producing collective networks of subversion and resistance within the urban borderland spaces of sailortowns in which sailors fought to maintain control over their mobility, agency, and rights. Second, that given their social, cultural, economic, geographic, and legal marginalization, merchant seamen have occupied essential roles at the parameters of US urban, legal, labor, immigration, and wartime history. Third, that the constellation of these histories, embedded in the encounters and negotiations that merchant seamen provoked along the nation¿s coastlines and sailortowns, collectively represents a unique and essential perspective on the history of US citizenship.

Mellem 1850 og 1920 udvandrede omkring 350.000 danskere - godt 10 procent af den daværende befolkning - til Amerika for at begynde et nyt liv. Nogle drømte om en ny begyndelse med frihed, rigdom og lykke. Andre flygtede fra ulykkelige begivenheder eller en fortid med kriminalitet. Og andre igen håbede på, at de kunne føre en religiøs levevis, der ikke var plads til i Danmark.REJSEN TIL AMERIKA er udvandrernes historie; en fortælling om store forventninger, hårdt slid, stædighed, falske forhåbninger og - for nogles vedkommende - opfyldelsen af den amerikanske drøm.. Det er en dokumentarisk fortælling stykket sammen af breve, dagbøger, erindringer, artikler, illustrationer, fotos og anden research i USA, Tyskland, England og Danmark.REJSEN TIL AMERIKA udkom første gang som et tobindsværk i 2013 og 2015. Denne version er en sammeskrevet version af de to bind. Dengang skrev anmelderne bl.a:"Et uvurderligt bidrag til den del af dansk historie, der udspiller sig oversøisk." Information"Bevægende." Politiken (fem hjerter)"Mage til vilde skæbner skal man lede længe efter." Weekendavisen"Smukt og fængslende." Fyens Stiftstidende

This historical book, based on real events and persons, follows the tumultuous journey of one family--that of John and Elizabeth Holloway--from colonial South Carolina to North Carolina and then to the Natchez District governed by Spain before, during, and after the American Revolution. From the extensive research done by the author and other ancestors of this family, including original documents preserved at the state archives of four different state capitals, many plausible explanations for mysteries surrounding this family and others involved, including some infamous characters, are uncovered. Also included are relevant events and methods used in the decades-long search for this family's story by their ancestors.

"A Hudson Valley Reckoning tells the story of northern slavery from the perspectives of two intertwined families. Debra Bruno's Dutch ancestors were enslavers, while Eleanor C. Mire's ancestors descended from those enslaved by Bruno's family. Despite their dark history, the two found a way to honor those whose stories had been lost"--

"A reflective history of feminism, religion, and place in the intentional Spiritualist community of Lily Dale, New York, from the late-nineteenth century through the early twenty-first century"--

"This book is a history of a piece of land in central New York, the ancestral homeland of the Oneida Indians. It traces the stories over four centuries of the two families, a Mohawk/Oneida family and the author's family of early settlers, who called it home"--

"An illustrated edition of The 1619 Project, with newly commissioned artwork and archival images, The New York Times Magazine's award-winning reframing of the American founding and its contemporary echoes, placing slavery and resistance at the center of the American story. Here, in these pages, Black art provides refuge. The marriage of beautiful, haunting and profound words and imagery creates an experience for the reader, a wanting to reflect, to sit in both the discomfort and the joy, to contemplate what a nation owes a people who have contributed so much and yet received so little, and maybe even, to act. --Nikole Hannah-Jones, from the Preface. Curated by the editors of The New York Times Magazine, led by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones, this illustrated edition of The 1619 Project features seven chapters from the original book that lend themselves to beautiful, engaging visuals, deepening the experience of the content. The 1619 Project: A Visual Experience offers the same revolutionary idea as the original book, an argument for a new national origin story that begins in late August of 1619, when a cargo ship of enslaved people from Africa arrived on the shores of Jamestown, Virginia. Only by reckoning with this difficult history and understanding its powerful influence on our present can we prepare ourselves for a more just future. Filled with original art by thirteen Black artists like Carrie Mae Weems, Calida Rawles, Vitus Shell, Xaviera Simmons, on the themes of resistance and freedom, a brand-new photo essay about slave auction sites, vivid photos of Black Americans celebrating their own forms of patriotism, and a collection of archival images of Black families by Black photographers, this gorgeous volume offers readers a dynamic new way of experiencing the impact of The 1619 Project. Complete with many of the powerful essays and vignettes from the original edition, written by some of the most brilliant journalists, scholars, and thinkers of our time, The 1619 Project: A Visual Experience brings to life a fuller, more comprehensive understanding of American history and culture"--

"The never-before-told inside story of the rebuilding of the World Trade Center - an epic tale of business, politics, and engineering by the man who spent two decades working to make it happen. After the terrorist attacks of 9/11 destroyed the World Trade Center, New Yorkers and Americans faced a critical set of questions: What should be done with the site? Could the towers be replaced? And how best to memorialize those lost on that day? For Larry Silverstein, a lifelong New Yorker who had signed a lease for the properties just a few months before the attacks, the answer was clear: America had to rebuild as quickly as possible. In The Rising, Silverstein recounts in vivid detail his long battle to construct a new World Trade Center complex and to revitalize the surrounding neighborhood while also memorializing the victims of the attacks. Silverstein made history in 2001 when he signed a 99-year lease on the 10.6 million square foot World Trade Center for $3.25 billion. For the next twenty years, he navigated warring political interests, byzantine city bureaucracies, and resistant insurance companies, as well as the many challenges of designing, engineering, and constructing several new towers in the heart of downtown Manhattan. More than once the entire project almost folded, but today the buildings are nearly complete and the neighborhood is once again a thriving hub that draws hundreds of thousands of people a day. The Rising is a vibrant portrait of the inner workings of New York City in the wake of its most profound tragedy, but it is also a master class in how to succeed in business despite all odds. Full of outsize characters and relentless adversity, this is a riveting book about a remarkable feat of vision and determination"--

Explore the maritime nexus of Falmouth at the dawn of the nineteenth century in this illuminating thesis, unraveling the port's pivotal role within the expansive British empire from 1800 to 1850. Through a multifaceted lens, this research delves into four key areas that underscore Falmouth's significance in Britain's maritime empire.Firstly, it argues that Falmouth's Packet Service played a vital role in intelligence gathering during the Napoleonic Wars, a triumph that fueled the expansion of the British empire. Secondly, the thesis investigates how Falmouth became a hub for exporting Cornwall's mining expertise to new colonies, contributing to the spread of informal empire. Thirdly, it explores how the import of plant specimens from the colonies influenced class-based power dynamics in and around the town. Lastly, the study delves into the intricate negotiations of identity and race resulting from interactions between British and foreign individuals, shaping the colonial context of the port.

Anyone who has ever lived in the great state of Pennsylvania has at one time or another either read about or heard someone talk about one of its folktales and legends. These types of stories seem to be a part of our heritage here in the Keystone State, and they are unquestionably an intriguing source of entertainment even yet today. In fact, they seem so popular that new ones are born all the time. However this continuous creation of new material tends to push the older tales into the background until they are either lost forever or are barely kept alive in the undercurrents of oral history.The intent of this first volume, and subsequent volumes, of the Pennsylvania Fireside Tales series, is to preserve some of these older stories, and to bring them to the attention of the current generation, who may not know that the history of this state is filled with tales of human interest that rival anything that can be seen on television or in the movie theatres of today. In this volume:Legends of the Seven MountainsWitchmaster versus WitchThe Great Train RobberyDetweilerThe Mournful Ghost of Swamp ChurchSounds of BattleThe Lost Brother of Bald Eagle ValleyHush Little Baby (Don't you cry)Rafting DaysCanyon CriesSleepless Night in a Haunted HousePanther HollowThe Ewig YaerFrom Indian Trails to HighwaysHorsing AroundThe Still on the HillSpirits of the Mine PatchThe King's Stool (A legend of Clark's Valley)Sam Ertel's Panthers

This issue of Manette Pioneering is a reprint of the 1988 gem of local history. Manette is a neighborhood of Bremerton in Kitsap County, Washington-fourteen miles across Puget Sound from Seattle. Its story begins with the local Suquamish tribe and continues with the explorations of Capt. George Vancouver in 1792 and Lt. Charles Wilkes in 1841. Manette Pioneering provides a compelling picture of life in the first half of the 20th century.Manette grew out of the early Puget Sound lumber industry. Detailed chapters cover local clubs, utilities, businesses, churches, and other aspects of small-town life. You will find pictures and stories from the famous Puget Sound mosquito fleet, including the little car ferry "Pioneer." Discover the tale of the iconic Manette Bridge which was financed partially by subscriptions from Manette residents. The Manette History Club began in 1983 when a dedicated group of volunteers, led by Estelle Meredith and Gideon Hermanson, met to discuss a way to keep the stories of the area's pioneers from being lost. The book committee used media and word-of-mouth to solicit stories and photographs to include as many families as possible. Over 130 families are represented in total.Erv Jensen, a professional journalist and the son of early pioneers himself, was the editor, with his assistant Maryjayne Hladky.To contact the Manette History Club, write to manettehistory@gmail.com

A collection of original essays and previously untranslated critical writings on the renowned Brazilian documentary filmmaker, Eduardo Coutinho.

NATIONAL BESTSELLERFrom bestselling true-crime author Peter Edwards and Governor General's Award-winning playwright Kevin Loring, two sons of Lytton, the BC town that burned to the ground in 2021, comes a meditation on hometown―when hometown is gone.“It’s dire,” Greta Thunberg retweeted Mayor Jan Polderman. “The whole town is on fire. It took a whole 15 minutes from the first sign of smoke to, all of a sudden, there being fire everywhere.”Before it made global headlines as the small town that burned down during a record-breaking heat wave in June 2021, while briefly the hottest place on Earth, Lytton, British Columbia, had a curious past. Named for the author of the infamous line, “It was a dark and stormy night,” Lytton was also where Peter Edwards, organized-crime journalist and author spent his childhood. Although only about 500 people lived in Lytton, Peter liked to joke that he was only the second-best writer to come from his tiny hometown. His grade-school classmate’s nephew Kevin Loring, Nlaka’pamux from Lytton First Nation, had grown up to be a Governor General’s Award–winning playwright.        The Nlaka’pamux called Lytton “The Centre of the World,” a view Buddhists would share in the late twentieth century, as they set up a temple just outside town. A gold rush in 1858 saw conflict with a wave of Californians come to a head with the Canyon War at the junction of the mighty Fraser and Thompson rivers. The Nlaka’pamux lost over thirty lives in that conflict, as did the American gold seekers. In modern times, many outsiders would seek shelter there, often people who just didn’t fit anywhere else and were hoping for a little anonymity in the mountains.        Told from the shared perspective of an Indigenous playwright and the journalist son of a settler doctor who pushed back against the divisions that existed between populations, Lytton portrays all the warmth, humour and sincerity of small-town life. A colourful little town that burned to the ground could be every town’s warning if we don’t take seriously what this unique place has to teach us.

"A groundbreaking argument on how the decades-long War on Terror changed virtually every aspect of American life, from the erosion of democracy down to what we watched on TV-by an acclaimed n+1 writer"--