The Statue of Liberty was given to the United States as a gift from the people of France in 1886. It was originally meant as an emblem of the friendship between the two nations, but over the years it has come to mean much more. The Statue of Liberty has come to represent the promise of America—a promise that drew tens of millions of immigrants from other countries, seeking greater freedom and opportunities. For many of these immigrants, Lady Liberty was the first thing they saw when they a...

Suicide is the third-leading cause of death among adolescents in the United States; in a recent study by the Gallup Youth Survey, 47 percent of teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 said they know someone who has tried to take their own lives. This volume examines the cause of teenage suicide and explores such issues as teens and guns as well as suicide rates among minorities.

George Washington played a vital role in the founding of the United States. He was commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolution, presided over the convention that drafted the U.S. Constitution, and served as the first president. To honor Washington for his contributions, in the 1840s construction began on a monument in his honor—a stone obelisk that rises more than 550 feet in the sky above the capital. It took nearly 40 years before the monument was completed. Each yea...

Some of the most important documents in American history were composed and debated within the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall. In 1776, the Second Continental Congress voted to approve the Declaration of Independence, which said that the American colonies would no longer be subject to the British rule. In 1787, Independence Hall hosted discussions for a new Constitution, which even today remains the foundation of government for the United States. The Liberty Bell, ...

In 1836, a small group of Texan settlers fighting for their freedom from Mexico fortified an old Spanish mission near the village of San Antonio de Béxar. Surrounded and badly outnumbered by a larger Mexican army, the defenders of the Alamo vowed to fight rather than surrender. Their sacrifice allowed other Texans the opportunity to organize and prepare their army to face the Mexicans, and win freedom for Texas at the Battle of San Jacinto six weeks later. Today the Alamo remains a shrine ...

Most young people in the United States today are willing to give something back to their communities. A recent report showed that each year an estimated 13 million teenagers donate more than 2.4 billion hours of their time to charitable causes, and the Gallup Youth Survey has found that roughly one-third of all teens participate in volunteer work. This volume examines the opportunities young people have for volunteering, and explores the issue of school-mandated community service.

Statistics show that 3,200 couples file for divorce every day in the United States, which clearly has an impact on the strength of families. Young people feel the painthe Gallup Organization has found that 75 percent of teenagers between 13 and 17 believe divorce is too easy to get. This volume examines the influences parents and families play in the lives of young people in the United States.

Most young people report that they believe in God, yet recent surveys by the Gallup Organization have shown that fewer than half of all teenagers in the United States regularly attend church. Is organized religion losing its influence on young people? How many teenagers think about careers in the clergy? This volume examines the influence of religion and values on young people today.

Like its neighbors on the Arabian Peninsula, the Republic of Yemen has a long and rich history. The southern Arabian region, which present-day Yemen shares, was once the home of the Sabaean kingdom. Led by the queen of Sheba, the kingdom formed an alliance with King Solomon, as recorded in the Old Testament. In the era of the burgeoning spice trade, the people of the Yemen region, which was advantageously located along the sea routes to Asia, had opportunities to attain great wealth. Howev...

For more than 200 years, U.S. presidents have lived and worked in the executive mansion at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C.—commonly known as the White House. The executive mansion received its nickname in 1798, when its stone exterior was painted white to seal it from moisture and prevent cracking. As the official home of the president, the White House has come to symbolize the power and authority of the U.S. government. Within its walls, decisions are made that affect the liv...

Over the past few decades, landmark legal cases, medical discoveries, and movies and television shows have helped increase acceptance of homosexuality in American culture. Young peoples opinions have played an important part in this growing tolerance. Studies show that more than 60 percent of young adults consider homosexuality acceptable. This volume will examine teen attitudes toward homosexuality, issues such as gay marriage and civil unions, and the experiences of gay teens.

The issue of slavery had divided the nation for decades, but problems came to a head after the election of Abraham Lincoln as president in 1860. Fearing that Lincoln would attempt to abolish slavery, the legislatures of 11 southern states voted to withdraw from the United States and create a new nation, the Confederate States of America. This would result in four bloody years of Civil War in which more than 600,000 Americans were killed. The Confederacy adopted several flags between 1861 a...