xxiv, 335 pages : 23 cm

Introduction : the genesis of America -- Conceived in liberty : the story behind the story -- Defining the American dream, July 2, 1776 : the Declaration of Independence and the forging of a new nation -- Undeclaring war, February 18, 1799 : navigating neutrality and the ramifications of the pursuit of peace -- Struggling for survival, September 13, 1814 : the Battle for Baltimore and the emergence of American nationalism -- The inauguration of Andrew Jackson, March 4, 1829 : America enters the age of the common man -- In the name of manifest destiny, May 9, 1846 : the war with Mexico and the acquisition of the American West -- A nation divides, April 12, 1861 : Fort Sumter and the era of the American Civil War -- Presidential bargaining, February 26, 1877 : the compromise of 1877 and the price of national unity -- The sinking of the Maine, February 15, 1898 : the Spanish American War and the emergence of America as a world power -- The silencing of Woodrow Wilson, September 25, 1919 : peace, normalcy and the rise of American isolationism -- The day of infamy, December 7, 1941 : Pearl Harbor and the transformation of the modern world -- A nation mourns, November 22, 1963 : the assassination of John F. Kennedy and the end of American innocence -- America taken hostage, November 4, 1979 : the Iranian hostage crisis and the restructuring of the world order -- Terrorists stun America, September 11, 2001 : negotiating security and liberty in the 21st century

Includes bibliographical references (pages 305-311) and index

Introduction : the genesis of America -- Conceived in liberty : the story behind the story -- Defining the American dream, July 2, 1776 : the Declaration of Independence and the forging of a new nation -- Undeclaring war, February 18, 1799 : navigating neutrality and the ramifications of the pursuit of peace -- Struggling for survival, September 13, 1814 : the Battle for Baltimore and the emergence of American nationalism -- The inauguration of Andrew Jackson, March 4, 1829 : America enters the age of the common man -- In the name of manifest destiny, May 9, 1846 : the war with Mexico and the acquisition of the American West -- A nation divides, April 12, 1861 : Fort Sumter and the era of the American Civil War -- Presidential bargaining, February 26, 1877 : the compromise of 1877 and the price of national unity -- The sinking of the Maine, February 15, 1898 : the Spanish American War and the emergence of America as a world power -- The silencing of Woodrow Wilson, September 25, 1919 : peace, normalcy and the rise of American isolationism -- The day of infamy, December 7, 1941 : Pearl Harbor and the transformation of the modern world -- A nation mourns, November 22, 1963 : the assassination of John F. Kennedy and the end of American innocence -- America taken hostage, November 4, 1979 : the Iranian hostage crisis and the restructuring of the world order -- Terrorists stun America, September 11, 2001 : negotiating security and liberty in the 21st century