For the average person, most of the American history that he or she knows comes from facts taught to them in school to prepare them for their state mandated tests. Thats not the fault of their teachers who were just carrying out the directives of their employers. But its also a fact that a great deal of that content that they were teaching is dry and boring. However, as in every aspect of life, there is always another story behind each major event. The story of America is interesting and exciting, but its those lesser known parts of our history that make it special. Even though in most cases, the names and events in the book will be recognizable, most of the stories about them will be new to the reader. If youre a young teacher, perhaps youll find some material to help you get through those less-than-exciting areas of your textbook. If you hated history as a student, maybe youll find some of these tales entertaining.

For those of you who are history buffs, hopefully youll come across a few things that are new to you.