Americana

From the president, to the Congress, to the courts, what happens in Washington affects the world. You hear the news. But does anyone ever explain why the American system works the way it does?

We do. Here are 40 things you should absolutely know about the USA.

Get principled about freedom. Make sense of government, elections, and political fights. Discover how past generations fought wars, made peace, and enshrined the American dream.

With the KnowledgeNews Americana ebook, you will understand the ideas, institutions, and icons that make America what it is. You'll have the knowledge America's founders considered essential to patriotism. In fact, that's where we start--with the founders' own Portrait of a Patriot.

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American Freedom
7 Ideas That Set Us Free
Trial by Jury
Habeas Corpus?
How Women Got the Vote
The Civil Rights Movement
What Speech Isn't Free?
Does the Constitution Really Promise Privacy?

American Government
Executive Privilege
Building a Cabinet
Advice and Consent
How Budget Battles Go
Filibuster or Bust
Starting the Supreme Court
The Supremest Supreme
Getting Judicial Review

American Icons
The Flag over Fort McHenry
Unfurling the Stars and Stripes
Why Americans Pledge Allegiance
Lady Liberty's Rough Welcome
America's Almost National Anthem
March of the Just Cause
2 American Music Idols

American Elections
Who Got Your Vote?
How the First Democrat Got Elected
How the First Republican Got Elected
Election 1824: When the Loser Won
Election 1876: The Closest Election Ever
Buying Influence in '04
Why Politicians Gerrymander

War and Peace
Who Fights American Wars?
The U.S. Armed Forces
How the Allies Prevailed in Postwar Germany
General MacArthur's "Demokrashi"
George Marshall's Plan

Gathering Intelligence
Sneak Attacks
What Is the NSA?
Why Have a CIA?

Searching and Seizing the Fourth Amendment
Revolutionary Spies

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Download this entire ebook in printable PDF form
(1 megabyte, 70 pages)