The Complete Idiot S Guide To The American Presidency

From George Washington to George W. In the course of the 2008 presidential campaigns, Americans became involved in the political process at a level rarely seen in modern history. But even before the historic race, George W. Bush's tenure had left many Americans wondering how we got to where we are today. The Complete Idiot's Guide® to the American Presidency takes readers from the first president to the one who just stepped down-exploring the legacies of the greatest leaders and the black marks against others, and showing the ways in which they left their stamp on both the nation and the presidency itself. • Written by the author of the highly successful The Complete Idiot's Guide® to American History, Fifth Edition • Appendices that list the presidents and their vice presidents, the presidential elections, and further reading

Chronicles the history of the presidential office from George Washington to the 2008 election, exploring the positive and negative legacies of forefront leaders while discussing how various commanders-in-chief affected the presidency itself.

Details the career path, presidential policies, key events, trivial facts, and historical impact of each president from George Washington to Bill Clinton.

Discusses American history from prehistory through 2006, including brief biographical sketches of historical figures and events from popular culture.

The compact history of a giant country. American history is one of those subjects that students frequently labor over and can seem like a random collection of names, dates, and events. Understood as a collective biography and free of the cheerleading found in many text books, the fully updated fifth edition of The Complete Idiot's Guide® to American History explains the changing tides in America's most pivotal periods. ? From a seasoned author and researcher ? The most current and comprehensive series title on American history ? Heightened interest right now in the question of how America got where we are - a question that can only be answered by an understanding of history

The "living" document that changed the world. One of the most revered, imitated, and controversial government documents in the world, the U.S. Constitution serves as the foundation for the American government and shapes the lives of Americans every day. But how many know its history and the impact it's had on American laws and practices throughout history? This guide serves as the most current and accessible handbook to this all-important document. -Covers the document itself, as well as controversial interpretations and decisions Download a sample chapter.

Accessible, authoritative, and entertaining in the signature style of theComplete Idiot'sGuide® series, The Complete Idiot's Guide® to U.S. Government and Politicsprovides a wonderful foundation of knowledge about the way our country's system of government works. Understanding how our government functions and the political forces that influence it is vital for all Americans. At the high school level, U.S. government, the class formerly called civics, has evolved to become a focus of the Advanced Placement test. In 2007, the AP U.S. government and politics exam was the most widely taken test among high school students on a college track, with over 333,562 students sitting for the 3.5-hour exam. Several strictly test prep books help students prepare for this exam. However, they're limited to the key points covered by the exam and don't afford much information outside the strict curriculum. The Complete Idiot's Guide® to U.S. Government and Politics gives the reader much more. As a comprehensive overview and history of the subject, this book is designed to help anyone interested in learning about our government and the origins of its complex inner workings, our political system, and key elements that have affected our growth as a nation-all while serving as a the best supplementary reading a student can get to help them prepare for the AP exam.

History comes alive! Presented in a high-impact, graphic novel format, The Complete Idiot's Guide® to U.S. History, Graphic Illustrated is a visually exciting and easy–to–understand alternative to boring textbooks. Innovative design and lively illustrations transport readers back in time to witness these events and more: • The changing lives of the Native Americans • The abolishment of slavery • The achievement of suffrage • The scandals, wars, and assassinations of the twentieth century • America's famous and infamous historical figures