These colorful books bring U.S. history to life!  They are full of fascinating facts, pictures, and maps. These books can be used as stand-alone textbooks, supplements to your textbooks, or as review courses for older students. The vocabulary and content skills are based on common state social studies standards. What makes U.S. History Detective® different from other American history books is the integration of critical thinking into the content lessons. The questions in these books require deeper analysis and frequently ask for supporting evidence from the lesson. This in-depth analysis produces greater understanding, which results in better grades and higher test scores. Over time, students who practice critical thinking learn to apply it throughout their education and lives. These books also develop reading comprehension and writing skills, and challenge students to learn new vocabulary.

These textbooks have both primary and secondary source information. Each lesson provides a passage students must read, followed by a series of questions. Questions are multiple choice, short answer, or short essay questions. Students are frequently asked to identify sentence evidence from the lesson that best supports the answer. Sample answers are provided which identify key points for the essays. In addition, there are section review activities and some bonus activities.

In these books, students will:
     •  Supply supporting evidence for many of their answers
     •  Supply essay evidence to support their conclusions by drawing on specific information from the lesson
     •  Draw inferences and conclusions based on their evaluation of the evidence
     •  Distinguish between facts and opinions
     •  Analyze historical chronology to see history as a series of interrelated events
     •  Acquire new vocabulary
     •  Learn to interpret and draw information from geographical maps, political cartoons, and charts
     
U.S. History Detective® Book 1 focuses on American history from the time of the first European explorers interacting with Native Americans through the Reconstruction Era following the Civil War.  The lessons and activities in this book are organized around these time periods:
     •  The Colonial Era
     •  The Revolutionary Era
     •  The Federal Era
     •  The Nationalism Era
     •  The Reform Era
     •  The Expansion Era
     •  The Sectional Conflict Era
     •  The Civil War Era
     •  Reconstruction Era

U.S. History Detective® Book 2 focuses on the late 1800s to the 21st century. The lessons and activities in this book are organized around these time periods:
     •  The Gilded Age: 1870-1900
     •  Imperialism and Progressives: 1890s-1910s
     •  The Great War: 1914-1919
     •  The Roaring Twenties: 1920-1929
     •  The Great Depression: 1929-1939
     •  World War II: 1939-1945
     •  The 1950s
     •  The 1960s
     •  The 1970s
     •  The 1980s
     •  The 1990s
     •  Bridge to the 21st Century