Ace your next history test with this concise‎,‎ easy‎-to‎-read guide U‎.‎S‎.‎ History for Dummies‎,‎ 3rd Edition fills the need to improve high school proficiency in history by providing a complete history of the United States‎,‎ presented in an accessible‎,‎ reader‎-friendly format designed to engage students while reinforcing lessons learned in class‎.‎ The National Assessment of Educational Progress 2011 report showed that only 12% of high school seniors in the U‎.‎S‎.‎ perform at a ‎"‎proficient‎"‎ level in history‎.‎ This‎,‎ coupled with the fact that U‎.‎S‎.‎ History courses and AP exams have been redesigned to remedy the situation‎,‎ means that many students and parents are in need of a supplemental study guide‎.‎ Award‎-winning political journalist and history writer Steve Wiegand guides you through the events that shaped our nation‎,‎ from pre‎-Columbian civilizations to the 21st century‎.‎ The explorers‎,‎ the wars‎,‎ the leaders‎,‎ and the eras are all fully explored and explained‎,‎ demonstrating how the past influences the future‎.‎ From the Boston Tea Party to the current Tea Party‎,‎ the updated 3rd edition includes information about events that have occurred since the previous edition‎'‎s 2009 release‎.‎ New coverage includes‎:‎ * Recession recovery‎,‎ including federal efforts‎,‎ unemployment‎,‎ and the widening class divide * The rise of the extreme right and the bitter divisions between political parties and geographic regions * Seeking the balance between superpower and domestic caretaker * The impact of social media‎,‎ government surveillance‎,‎ and cyber crime Not all history is old news‎,‎ and what happened yesterday affects us all today‎.‎ It is vitally important that all U‎.‎S‎.‎ citizens are well‎-versed in the building of our nation‎,‎ and remain aware of current events‎.‎ For students and parents wondering what they‎'‎ve missed‎,‎ U‎.‎S‎.‎ History for Dummies‎,‎ 3rd Edition unlocks the door to the past and the future‎.‎