Preface and Acknowledgments to the Second Edition

List of Abbreviations

Map of the United States of America: States and State Capitals

Introduction

1 History

The Rise of a Nation

The Rise to Power

From Isolation to Superpower

The Cold War

The 1990s

2 Land and People

The Land

The People

Regions

Immigration

3 Government

The Constitution

The Federal System

The Branches of Government

4 The Political System

The 2004 Election

Participatory Democracy

Political Parties

Politics

5 Society

Class

The American Family

Women

Race

Crime and Punishment

6 Religion, Education, and Social Policy

Religion

Education

Social Services

7　Culture

Diversity

The Rise of American Culture

Leisure Time

Print Media

Mass Entertainment

Government Activities

The World Wide Web

Sports

The Arts

Popular Music

8　The Economy

The US Domestic Economy

Labor Unions

Business and Industry

Government and Business

The Global Marketplace

The Dollar and the Trade Deficit

9　Foreign Policy

Separation of Powers and Foreign Policy

The Administration of Foreign Policy

History of Foreign Policy

The Cold War, 1945-1991

The New World Order

The Bush Administration

10 Conclusion

The Home Front

Foreign Affairs

Conclusion

Appendix: Constitution of the United States

Recommended Reading

America on the Internet

Bibliography