1001 Events That Made America: A Patriot's Handbook

by Alan Axelrod

For some, patriotism means flags and parades, for others it's "My country right or wrong." But it's much more than that, and as Alan Axelrod observes in this revealing review of our history, true patriotism is built on a bedrock of understanding—who we are as individuals and as a nation, how our ideals and our democracy have evolved, and what it really means to be an American. It's a challenge that calls for an open mind and a clear perspective on the people, events, and issues that shaped our society—and that's just what 1001 Events That Made America provides.


This handy, informative chronology of key events in our history sweeps from 45,000 B.C., when the first intrepid Asians crossed the Bering land bridge to populate North America, to the 21st century, which finds us the richest and most powerful country in the world—a prodigious, panoramic journey marked out by more than 1,000 milestones and turning points, each explained in concise, lively detail. From Plymouth Rock to Pearl Harbor, from the Civil War to the Civil Rights movement, from George Washington to George W. Bush, we learn what happened, who was involved, and why it's important.


Axelrod, author of the popular What Every American Should Know About American History, has a wonderful knack for capturing powerful ideas, towering figures, and definitive moments with a memorable turn of phrase, and by the time readers follow him step by step from our past to our present, they'll have come a long way towards a real and rewarding answer to the What is a patriot?

Genres: History, Nonfiction

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Alan Axelrod, Ph.D., is a prolific author of history, business and management books. As of October 2018, he had written more than 150 books, as noted in an online introduction by Lynn Ware Peek before an interview with Axelrod on the National Public Radio station KPCW. Axelrod resides in Atlanta, Georgia.

Reviews

[Nicole Downs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick list of events that explain U.S. history, fairly week starting in about the 80's (pro-Liberal), but still a good list. Great source for finding other historical events to read more about in a longer book.

[Van Tilburg]

It is hard to argue with a subjective list, I liked most of his choices. The author has a liberal bias from about 1980 to Katrina. I also disagreed with his idea that Alger Hiss was an innocent victim instead of a traitor. But he has a very interesting list, over all.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Passes the time for people who find single paragraphs about history interesting. Solidly works until the mid-20th century, where a little more opinionated "history" is listed.

[Will · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good bathroom reading. Single shot history told from a slightly rightist angle. But interesting side notes from pre-history to 2005.

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic bible of events that made this country what it is today. The greatest nation in the world.

[Edward · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cliff notes version of American history, good if your a high school student writing a report, but other than that, not very informative.

[RA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone should read this; A nice concise history of American events. Ideal for students!

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Interesting and informative.