This book answers the need for a fully up-to-date essential information on the history of public life, social and cultural change, scientific and artistic achievement, and religious diversity. The book includes concise histories for every state, biographies of leading figures in all fields of endeavor, and accounts of all the wars and conflicts in which the country has been involved. Particular attention is paid to the history of the American Indian peoples and full coverage of political, constitutional, and foreign affairs is complemented by a wide range of entries on gender and rights issues and on minority history. A Dictionary of American History is designed to be of maximum use to the widest range of individuals needing facts about the past on short notice. Anyone armed with the book can swiftly discover the essential elements of who, what, when, and where about a subject, check dates or spelling, and have an invaluable aid in trouble-shooting for tests or checking accuracy. Casual readers who browse through it will find it a fascinating source of innumerable surprises and curiosities about a rich and vibrant past.