Ellis Roxburgh

"The slave revolt on the ship Amistad in 1839 was a crucial event in the early abolitionist movement in the United States. When the vessel arrived in America, a fierce debate began about whether the Africans were free or enslaved and whether they should be allowed to return to Africa. The argument became a legal battle that eventually ended up in the US Supreme Court, with former president John Quincy Adams representing the Africans. This remarkable...

"The early years of the United States weren't wholly tranquil. The new nation was on rocky economic ground. Though paper money was in circulation, it wasn t worth much. Many people were suffering and didn t have a voice in government. These conditions gave rise to the rebellion led by former Continental army captain Daniel Shays, beginning in 1786. This volume explains what happened when Shays and more than one thousand followers attempted to capture...

"The Seminole Wars were comprised of three separate clashes between the United States and the Seminole Indians of Florida between 1817 and 1858. The first touched off when the US Army invaded Seminole territory in order to capture fugitive slaves living among the native people. The Seminoles were pushed farther and farther south into Florida. Ultimately, the Seminoles lost their land and Florida became American territory opened up for white settlers....

No study of the American Civil War is complete without an understanding of the events that unfolded in Harpers Ferry, Virginia, in 1859. Abolitionist John Brown became a martyr to many through his raid on the federal arsenal there, in support of a slave rebellion. But he became a reviled enemy to those opposed to abolition. This in-depth account provides many fascinating details of the planning of the raid, such as Brown s attempt to recruit Frederick...

Mesopotamia is often considered the origin of civilization. Nestled on the Fertile Crescent, this empire created the first system of writing and improved farming and livestock so that specialization was possible.

"China is one of the worlds oldest civilizations. It invented paper, writing, and printing, and today it is one of the worlds fastest-growing countries. Its history is vast, with many conflicts and characters, who have helped shape the country into its current state. China is a world leader in business and has a successful economy. This book describes China and explains how it became the nation it is today."--Provided by publisher.