For the average person, most of the American history that he or she knows comes from facts taught to them in school to prepare them for their state mandated tests. That's not the fault of their teachers who were just carrying out the directives of their employers. But it's also a fact that a great deal of that content that they were teaching is dry and boring. However, as in every aspect of life, there is always another story behind each major event. The story of America is interesting and exciting, but it's those lesser known parts of our history that make it special. Even though in most cases, the names and events in the book will be recognizable, most of the stories about them will be new to the reader. If you're a young teacher, perhaps you'll find some material to help you get through those less-than-exciting areas of your textbook. If you hated history as a student, maybe you'll find some of these tales entertaining. For those of you who are history buffs, hopefully you'll come across a few things that are new to you.

Author Biography

For thirty-one years, Mike Henry taught American History to students at all levels of the educational spectrum from elementary school to college. Since the inception of No Child Left Behind, he averaged a success rate of more than 80% on state mandated testing at a school where the majority of the students were at the poverty level. Mike is a two-time award winner of Who's Who Among America's Classroom Teachers. Following his retirement, he wrote Black History: More Than Just A Month, published by Rowman & Littlefield.