Includes bibliographical references.

v.1 Spirit of seventy-six (1763-1776): "The flame is kindled" -- Shot heard 'round the world -- Assault on the North -- "We hold these truths" -- Across the Delaware -- Young republic (1777-1815): Way to victory -- Washington at Yorktown -- Birth of a nation -- "Don't give up the ship" -- Manifest destiny (1816-1860): Jackson, the people's friend -- Call of the west -- John Brown's body -- In their own words (1776-1860) -- v.2 Forging of the Union (1861-1897): Guns of Sumter -- Grant closes the ring -- Unifying the divided nation -- The new colossus -- World at war (1898-1945): Over there -- Collapse and comeback -- Struggle for the Pacific -- D-Day to V-E Day -- New universe (1945-1976): Bomb that burned the world -- Toward a new frontier -- "Let us reason together" -- In their own words (1861-1976).