This Month in History Book 2

This Month in HISTORY

THIS BOOK BELONGS TO

BOOK 2

CREDITS

Naphtali Hoff, PsyD

Project consultant

Fraydel Sharf

Content Director

Deena Hoff

Project coordinator

WRITER TEAM

Yisrael Kaminetsky

Copywriter

Tamara Shane, Mrs. Leah Cohen

Curriculum Advisor

LAYOUT & DESIGN

Akiva Leitner

Project Manager

Mirko Zunic

Layout Director

This Month in History Book 2

ISBN 978-1-955773-26-3

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INTRODUCTION

Dear Educators and Students,

Welcome to the "This Month in History" series, an innovative educational resource from Lighthouse Curriculum. This engaging book has been thoughtfully designed to supplement your social studies and history lessons while also enhancing your students' reading and comprehension skills.

One of the key features of this series is its alignment with students' grade-specific reading levels. The book offers a captivating topic to explore each week, covering significant events and fascinating moments in history that occurred within the same month. By connecting these historical events to the present, we hope to foster a deeper understanding and relevance for students, making their learning experience more enjoyable and meaningful.

To further support students' development, each passage is accompanied by comprehension questions, exercises, interactive activities and new vocabulary words. These components have been carefully curated to encourage critical thinking, reflection, and knowledge retention.

We are proud to say that the "This Month in History" series has been met with overwhelmingly positive feedback from both educators and students alike. As you embark on this exciting journey through time, we look forward to witnessing the positive impact it has on your students. Our team is confident that this book will not only broaden their knowledge in social studies and history but also enhance their reading and reading comprehension skills.

Thank you for choosing Lighthouse Curriculum as your educational partner, and we wish you a captivating adventure through the pages of history. Let the journey begin!

Warm regards,

The Lighthouse Curriculum Team

CALIFORNIA

Imagine waking up to this news, “Road Worker Discovers Gold Flakes On The Streets Of The City. Come One, Come All! Get Your Gold And Get Rich!” Would you believe such news? What do you think would happen in your city as a result?

Well, something just like this really happened in California back in 1848!

California wasn’t always part of the United States of America. It was part of Mexico, a country located south of the USA. After a war between the two countries in 1848, Mexico signed an agreement to give the land of California over to the United States. When two countries decide on a plan together, they write an agreement.

Mexico did not know that only a few days before they signed the agreement, gold was found at John Sutter’s sawmill in

▸ Mining on the American River near Sacramento, 1852

WIKIPEDIA

WIKIPEDIA

Portsmouth Square, San Francisco, during the Gold Rush, 1851

WIKIPEDIA

• Nickname: The Golden State

• Statehood: 1850; 31st state

• Population (as of September 2022): 39,185,605

• Capital: Sacramento

• Biggest City: Los Angeles

• Abbreviation: CA

• State bird: California valley quail

• State flower: California poppy

January 24, 1848

GOLD FOUND AT SUTTER’S MILL IN COLOMA, CA

August 19, 1848

FIRST NEWSPAPER, NEW YORK HERALD, ON THE EAST COAST REPORTED THE DISCOVERY OF GOLD.

California

February 2, 1848 1849.

END OF MEXICAN AMERICAN WAR AND AGREEMENT TO GIVE THE LAND OF CALIFORNIA OVER TO THE UNITED STATES.

WORD OF THE GOLD RUSH HAD SPREAD AROUND THE WORLD. AN OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF GOLDSEEKERS AND MERCHANTS - ABOUT 90,000 - TRAVELED TO CALIFORNIA HOPING TO STRIKE IT RICH.

September 9, 1850

CALIFORNIA BECAME A STATE

FEBRUARY JANUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE THIS MONTH IN HISTORY | 9

▸ Looking for gold

▸ Looking for gold in a river in California

California. A sawmill is a factory where trees are cut and shaped into different sizes of wood. Suddenly, 60,000 people rushed to California to find gold. The thought of becoming rich from picking up gold nuggets from the ground was exciting! This time was called the Gold Rush.

It wasn’t easy for the Native Americans who lived in California to be taken over by the gold miners. The gold miners came with contagious diseases which caused many Native Americans to die. Mining towns were rough, and the gold miners weren’t prepared for the hard work. Many miners didn’t have showers or clean clothes for weeks. They also did not have good food to eat. In the end, the gold was harder to find than people had thought it would be.

California became a state on September 9, 1850. It was the 31st state to join the United States. Nowadays, it has the largest population of all the 50 states. Population means the number of people living there. In the year 2022, there were over 39 million people living in California. California is the third to the largest state in land size. Alaska and Texas are larger than California. Just like the other 50 states, California has a nickname. It is called the Golden State because of its amazing beauty and because of the famous Gold Rush that once took place there.

▸ California is the third to the largest state in land size.

Question REVIEW

1. Which country did California belong to before it became part of the USA?

a. The Golden State

b. Alaska

c. Mexico

d. Texas

2. Why did 60,000 people rush to California?

a. They were excited to live in a place that just joined the 50 states of America.

b. They came to search for gold and get rich.

c. They wanted to live in a beautiful land.

d. They didn’t want to stay in Mexico.

3. What is California’s nickname?

a. The Golden Gate

b. The Gold Rush

c. The Golden State

d. Gold State

4.

On what date did California become one of the 50 states of the USA?

5. How do you think Mexico felt after hearing about the Gold Rush?

A LOOK AT THE LARGEST STATES IN THE USA

Alaska, California, and Texas are the 3 largest states in land size. Look at the chart and answer the questions below.

3. Below is a picture of the Golden Gate Bridge. In which state do you think it’s located? How did you know?

1. Put the states in order from largest to smallest population.

2. Draw a line to match the state to its flower.

4. Why do you think less people live in Alaska than in the other states?

Did you know?

• The Civil War was the first time people were drafted into the army, meaning that they had to join the army.

• The Confederacy was not recognized as a separate nation by any country.

▸ The Confederate and the U.S. flags

▸ Painting of the Battle of Antietam

WIKIPEDIA

WIKIPEDIA

BATTLE OF ANTIETAM

There was a time in the United States when black people were forced to work without pay. They were slaves who belonged to white landowners called masters. Slavery was very important for the farms in the South. The South included all the states from Maryland and south of it. Without slavery, farm owners would have to pay workers and make much less money. Slaves in the U.S. were treated very badly and had no rights or freedoms. A slave’s master was allowed to beat him like he might beat his animal. In the northern states, there were fewer large farms and slaves were not as needed or used.

In 1860, Abraham Lincoln became the president of the United States. He tried to stop the spread of slavery to new states that wanted to join the country. Some states in the South were really upset about it. They said

Do you like when people tell you what to do? Most people do not like being forced to do things. For many years in the United States, black people were forced to work as slaves. It took a long, bloody war to finally end slavery in the U.S.

▸ The red states formed the Confederate States of America

that Lincoln was trying to completely end slavery. Eleven states seceded , meaning separated, from the Union and started their own country called the Confederate States of America. The Union was the states in the North. In April 1861, the Confederate army attacked a Union army base in South Carolina, starting the Civil War.

The first major battle fought on Union land was on September 17, 1862, in Maryland. It was called the Battle of Antietam. The Confederate army attacked Maryland, hoping to win the war quickly. The fighting was very heavy, and more than 23,000 people were killed or hurt. In fact, it was the worst day in American history for people being hurt or killed. However, the Union army was able to stop the Confederate army from winning any Union land. This major victory showed the Union that they could win the war.

A few months after the Battle of Antietam, President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This was a law freeing all slaves in the U.S. The Civil War continued for two and a half years after the Battle of Antietam. More than one million people died or were hurt during the Civil War. The Union army had better supplies, and they took over the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia, in April 1865. Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant. When a side gives up fighting, it surrenders and loses the war.

The war was finally over, and slavery became illegal, or against the law, throughout the United States.

secededseparated Emancipation Proclamation - a law freeing all slaves in the U.S. surrenderedgave up fighting a war illegal - against the law

▸ The Confederate States of America’s first White House was in Alabama. That’s where Confederate President Jefferson Davis lived.

▸ Lincoln in McClellan's tent after the Battle of Antietam

Question REVIEW

1. How many people died or were hurt during the Civil War?

a. More than one million

b. Half a million

c. Five thousand

d. Ten thousand

2. Who became president of the United States in 1860?

a. Thomas Jefferson

b. George Washington

c. Ulysses S. Grant

d. Abraham Lincoln

3. Who was the general of the Confederate Army?

a. General Ulysses S. Grant

b. Robert E. Lee

c. Abraham Lincoln

d. Andrew Hamilton

4. In which area in the U.S. was there slavery?

5. What did Abraham Lincoln want to do regarding slavery?

6. Why was the battle of Antietam so important?

MAPPING OUT THE MAJOR BATTLES OF THE CIVIL WAR

This is a map of some of the major battles of the Civil War. Write true or false next to the following statements.

1. The Battle of Antietam was the farthest north of all major Civil War battles.

2. There were no major battles in Alabama.

3. The battle in New Orleans was the farthest south of all major Civil War battles.

4. Chattanooga was part of the Union.

5. Virginia had the most major battles during the Civil War.

NATIONAL HONEY MONTH

Bzzzz…..

“Bee!”

When someone yells “Bee,” do you run to the other side of the room? Many people are afraid of being stung by a bee. Ouch!

For most people, being stung by a bee hurts a little but is not dangerous. What are bees good for? Let’s find out why bees are important to the world.

▸ Bees store honey in the hive during the summer so they have food for the winter

▸ Bee with pollen on body

▸ Bees collect nectar from flowers.

Did you know?

There are more than 20,000 types of bees, but only eight produce honey.

Honeybees have two stomachs, one for eating and one to store nectar for producing honey.

Bees live in hives with about 60,000 of their bee friends. The group of bees in the hive is called a colony. Each colony is ruled by the queen bee, which is bigger than the other bees. Besides the queen, worker bees also live in the hive. Worker bees spend a lot of time outside of the hive hard at work.

Every day, the worker bees leave their hives to look for food, called nectar, in flowers. The bees go from flower to flower eating nectar. They also collect nectar for the queen to eat. Besides eating nectar, honeybees make honey from it. Bees use a special chemical in their stomachs to turn the nectar into honey. The bees store the honey in the hive. Honey is sweet and delicious and also has many health benefits. Honey can soothe a sore throat and even help stomach aches.

▸ Beekeepers wear special suits so they don’t get stung

▸ Worker bee

▸ Up to 80,000 bees can live in a hive!

nectar - food for bees that is in flowers

pollen - small pieces in flowers that help certain foods grow beekeeperspeople who own many beehives where bees make honey produce - make

When a bee lands on a flower to collect nectar, pollen grains stick to its body. Pollen is small pieces in flowers that help certain foods grow. As the bee flies from flower to flower, it spreads these pollen grains to many other plants. Many fruits and vegetables also need pollen from bees to grow, such as apples, strawberries, almonds, and broccoli.

Beekeepers are people who own many beehives where bees make honey. In 2020, beekeepers in the U.S. made more than 180 million pounds of honey. That’s more than most other countries. Most of the honey in the U.S. is made in North Dakota, Montana, and South Dakota.

In the United States, September is National Honey Month. Most bees stop making honey in September, which is why it is a good time to honor them and the delicious honey they produce , or make. National Honey Month began in 1989 to teach people about the importance of honeybees and how they help us grow food.

Question REVIEW

1. Which of the following is a health benefit of honey?

a. Soothing a sore throat

b. Healing a broken arm

c. Curing a headache

d. Curing a virus

2. Which U.S. state does not produce a lot of honey?

a. North Dakota

b. Montana

c. South Dakota

d. Michigan

3. What is the group of bees in a hive called?

a. A school

b. A litter

c. A colony

d. A hive

4. Name three fruits and vegetables that would not grow without bees.

5. What do bees do with the nectar they collect?

6. Why was September chosen as National Honey Month?

The following five countries make a lot of honey. This chart shows how much honey these countries made in 2020. Look at the following chart and answer the questions.

1. Which country makes more honey, Turkey or the United States?

2. Which country made the most honey in the world in 2020?

3. Circle the country that made the least honey.

• Argentina • Ukraine • United States • Turkey

4. How many pounds of honey did Turkey make in 2020?

5. Why do you think China makes more honey than other countries?

Did you know?

• Galveston was the first city in Texas to have gas lights, the first to have electric lights, and the first to have a telephone!

• Before the devastation of the 1900 storm, Galveston was the second richest city in the United States,

▸ Volunteers could not believe that the entire city was destroyed by the hurricane

▸ Galveston before the storm

GALVESTON HURRICANE

Do you like splashing in puddles on rainy days or staying dry at home?

Besides having fun in the rain, rain is very important for drinking and growing food. However, too much rain can be dangerous. Let’s read about a dangerous storm called a hurricane that hit Galveston.

Hurricanes are storms with very fast winds and heavy rain that can cause a lot of damage.

Galveston is a city on an island in Texas. In the late 1800s, Galveston was one of the richest cities in the United States. Many people started businesses there and made a lot of money. About 37,000 people lived in Galveston, and it became the center of business for the state of Texas.

On the morning of September 8, 1900, a hurricane hit the city, with winds blowing over 130 miles per hour. The ocean’s waves became very tall and flooded the entire city, destroying many buildings. Some of the waves were 17 feet tall! The hurricane and waves lasted for 12 hours. By the end of the day, 8,000 people had been killed, and the entire city was destroyed. This hurricane became known as the Great Galveston Hurricane.

▸ As of 2023, the Galveston hurricane is the most deadly hurricane in U.S. history.

When people tried to help the island, they had a hard time getting there. All the bridges, roads, and train tracks to Galveston were destroyed in the hurricane. The city was ruined and needed a lot of help. Many people were hurt, and 10,000 people were homeless. Someone who does not have a house to live in is homeless. It took a few days until people reached Galveston to help and bring food. Many people died because there was no quicker way for help to reach the island.

The volunteers who came to help built big tents on the city’s beach for the thousands of homeless people. Volunteers help others in need without getting paid. People from all over the U.S. sent money to help rebuild the city. The government gave many people money to buy supplies to build three-room houses. It took many years to rebuild the city.

hurricane - a very strong storm that can cause a lot of damage

homelesssomeone who does not have a house to live in volunteerspeople who help others in need without getting paid

seawall - a wall that surrounds a city or island to protect it from floods

When the city was rebuilt, they also made it safer. They built a strong, tall seawall. A seawall is a wall that surrounds a city or island to protect it from floods. People did not want to move to Galveston after the hurricane, and it took a long time for the city to recover.

▸ The sea wall around Galveston

▸ Galveston’s seawall being built

WIKIPEDIA WIKIPEDIA

Question REVIEW

1. When did the Galveston hurricane happen?

a. September 8, 1901

b. September 9, 1900

c. September 9, 1901

d. September 8, 1900

2. Why do you think people did not want to move to Galveston?

a. They were afraid another hurricane would hit.

b. They did not like how the city looked after it was rebuilt.

c. The city did not rebuild any roads leading to it.

d. The city did not allow new people to move in.

3. What did the government give people in Galveston after the hurricane hit?

a. New houses for free

b. Money to buy supplies to build homes

c. Buses for people to leave Galveston

d. Money for food

4. How long did the hurricane and floods last in Galveston?

5. How did people help Galveston after the hurricane?

6. How did Galveston become a safer city after it was rebuilt?

CATEGORIES OF HURRICANES

In 1971, scientists created this scale to measure how strong hurricanes are based on how fast the wind blows during the storm. A category 1 hurricane is the weakest, and category 5 is the strongest. Look at the chart and answer the questions.

1. What level of hurricane forces people to leave the area?

a. Category 1 b. Category 2

c. Category 3 d. Category 4

2. How tall are the waves of a category 1 hurricane?

a. 4-5 feet b. 7-9 feet

c. 10-14 feet

d. 25 feet or more

3. How fast are the winds of a category 3 hurricane?

a. 90-110 miles per hour

b. 111-130 miles per hour

c. 131-155 miles per hour

d. 156-180 miles per hour

SOURCE: SAFFIR SIMPSON SCALE

NAVAL ACADEMY

There are many ways that enemies can try to hurt a country. They can attack on land with soldiers or in the sky with special planes. They can also try to attack from the sea. That’s where the navy comes in! The navy is the part of the army that fights on ships and protects a country from enemies trying to reach its shore. If you want to join the U.S. Navy, you have to go to a special school called the Naval Academy. Let’s learn more about the Naval Academy!

▸ US Naval Academy waterfront in the late 1860s

▸ The U.S. Naval Academy was honored by the U.S. Post Office in 1937

The United States Navy was founded on October 13, 1775, during the American Revolution. Founded is when an organization is created. The American people were fighting for their freedom from the British and needed a navy to fight against the Royal Navy of Great Britain.

On October 10, 1845, the United States Naval Academy opened in Annapolis, Maryland. The Naval Academy is a school that trains people to be officers in the U.S. Navy or Marine Corps. The Marine Corps is a special part of the army that fights both on sea and on land. The Naval Academy started with a class of 50 midshipmen. Midshipmen are students at the Naval Academy.

Over the years, the Naval Academy grew. The place where the academy is located, called “The Yard,” went from a small ten acres to a large 340 acres of land. They also changed the old wooden buildings to new, granite buildings. The number of students grew to 4,000 midshipmen. About 1,000 midshipmen graduate each year and go on to work in the U.S. Navy or U.S. Marine

Midshipmen study at the academy for four years. They learn about engineering, science, math, social science, and how to fight on ships. They also learn how to lead teams in a war and follow orders from the people above them. Midshipmen also play sports to keep fit and healthy.

Each summer, midshipmen spend two months at sea. This gives them

© 2004, 2006 RAY TRYGSTAD / WIKIPEDIA

▸ The Naval Academy Flag

▸ United States Navy Midshipman Class & Rank Insignia

founded - when an organization is created midshipmenstudents at the Naval Academy submarine - a warship that is driven completely underwater fleet - a group of ships owned by a country

Did you know?

• The first year midshipmen are also known as “plebes.”

• Midshipmen wear uniforms similar to the ones worn by U.S. Navy officers.

a chance to practice the skills they have learned on an actual ship. They learn how to guide boats in rough sea conditions, and they get used to spending time in small spaces on small boats. Midshipmen learn how to use weapons and steer navy ships. They also learn to steer submarines. A submarine is a warship that travels completely underwater.

The U.S. Navy used to have a fleet of sailboats and steam ships. In the early 1900s they started using submarines to find enemy ships underwater. A fleet is a group of ships owned by one country. The Navy also has big ships called aircraft carriers, where planes take off and land. The Naval Academy teaches the midshipmen how to use these ships.

After four years of studying, midshipmen are ready to be a part of the U.S. Navy. It is one of the strongest navies in the world, with over 340,000 members.

▸ Midshipmen graduating the Naval Academy in 2011

▸ First-year midshipmen paddling boats during training at sea ▸ U.S. Navy aircraft carrier ship WIKIPEDIA

▸ Midshipmen walking to class on the Naval Academy campus

Question REVIEW

1. Students at the Naval Academy are called:

a. Officers in training

b. Naval fighters

c. Midshipmen

d. Lieutenants

2. After midshipmen graduate, they join:

a. The U.S. Navy

b. The U.S. Air Force

c. The U.S. Marine Corps

d. The U.S. Navy or the U.S. Marine Corps

3. How many students graduate from the Naval Academy each year?

a. 50

b. 1,000

c. 250

d. 4000

4. When did the Naval Academy open?

5. Why do the midshipmen spend two months at sea during the summer?

6. Why do you think the midshipmen have to learn subjects like math and science at the Naval Academy?

THE FIVE MILITARY ACADEMIES OF THE USA

The United States has five military academies to train future military leaders. Each academy specializes in a different area. Study the chart and answer the questions below.

1. Which two academies are based in the same state? Which state?

2. Which academy has the most students?

3. What do all five U.S. military academies have in common?

4. Which academy would you go to if you wanted to fight from a fighter plane?

Did you know?

• The George Washington Bridge is home to the world’s largest freeflying U.S. flag.

• The cost of the total project to build the GWB was $59 million.

• There are a total of 760 light fixtures mounted on the two towers of the GWB.

▸ Sidewalk on the George Washington Bridge

▸ George Washington Bridge up close

▸ Close-up of a cable used in the George Washington Bridge

▸ View from above the George Washington Bridge

WIKIPEDIA

WIKIPEDIA

WIKIPEDIA WIKIPEDIA

GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE

Hundreds of thousands of people drive between New York City and New Jersey each day, thanks to the George Washington Bridge! Let’s take a look back at its history.

Construction of the George Washington Bridge (GWB) began in 1927. The bridge connects New York City to New Jersey across the Hudson River and is 4,760 feet long! It’s a special type of bridge called a suspension bridge. This means it has lots of strong cables holding up the road between two tall towers. If you took all the cables from the GWB and laid them end to end, they would stretch 107,000 miles! The bridge looks cool at night because its cables and towers light up. When it was built, the GWB was the longest suspension bridge in the world.

Building a suspension bridge is a challenging project because the cables and towers have to be very strong to hold up the road. Also, since the GWB was the longest suspension bridge in the world when it was built, it required a lot of planning and hard work to complete. Building it was a big accomplishment for the engineers and workers involved.

▸ The George Washington Bridge under construction

▸ Lower level of the George Washington Bridge

suspension bridge - a bridge where the road is suspended, or held up, by strong cables between two or more towers vehiclessomething used for transportation, like cars, trucks, buses, and motorcycles pedestrianspeople who walk along a road where vehicles go cyclists - people who ride bicycles

On October 24, 1931, future President Franklin D. Roosevelt opened the new bridge and named it to honor the first president of the United States of America. The bridge was only open for people on October 24, and many excited people walked across it with their families.

The bridge opened for cars on October 25, 1931. In its first year, more than 5.5 million vehicles crossed the bridge between New York and New Jersey. A vehicle is something used for transportation, like cars, trucks, buses, and motorcycles. The bridge had six lanes, three for each direction. The bridge became very busy, so two lanes were added in 1946. In 1958, construction on another level began. In 1962, the new six-lane lower level opened, nearly doubling the size of the bridge. There are also sidewalks for pedestrians and cyclists. Pedestrians are people who walk along a road where vehicles go. Cyclists are people who ride bicycles.

The GWB carries more than 100 million vehicles to and from New York City each year. That’s over 300,000 vehicles daily! There is a 15 dollar toll for crossing the bridge. Toll money helps pay to keep the bridge in good condition.

Since 1931, larger suspension bridges have been built in the U.S. and other countries. However, the GWB carries more people than any other bridge in the world.

▸ George Washington Bridge with New York City in the background

▸ The George Washington Bridge at night

WIKIPEDIA WIKIPEDIA

Question REVIEW

1. How many lanes did the GWB have by 1946?

a. 6

b. 8

c. 14

d. 12

2. How many cars travel daily over the GWB?

a. 250,000

b. 30,000

c. 5.5 million

d. 300,000

3. Which of the following is true? The GWB is still .

a. The longest suspension bridge in the U.S.

b. The longest suspension bridge in the world

c. The most traveled suspension bridge in the world

d. The tallest suspension bridge in the U.S.

4. When did the GWB open for cars?

5. Why do you think the GWB was only open for pedestrians on the first day it opened?

6. Why do you think the bridge was named after President George Washington?

SUSPENSION BRIDGES AROUND THE WORLD

Take a look at some long suspension bridges around the world. Then answer the questions below.

Fill in the blanks with the correct answer:

1.The Bridge is the most recently opened bridge.

2. The Bridge has the most lanes for traffic.

3. Both the and are located in the USA.

4. Which bridge is probably the most narrow? How did you know?

5. The Bridge is longer than the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, but shorter than the .

Did you know?

• The UN flag was designed by a teenager from Ohio. The design was chosen from more than 1,500 designs from around the world.

• The official languages of the UN are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.

• During the General Assembly, security is very tight. Nearly all of the world’s leaders are in the same building at the same time. Hundreds of police officers surround the U.N. headquarters, and police boats patrol the nearby East River.

UNITED NATIONS

Have you ever had a disagreement with a friend and needed help finding a solution? Well, countries sometimes have disagreements too, and they need help to find a solution without fighting. That’s why in 1945, the United Nations was created. It’s like a team of countries, working together to solve problems and build peace all around the world!

After World War II (19391945), the leaders of five major countries met to plan the United Nations (UN). These countries were the United States, England, the USSR, France, and China. They created the UN to keep the peace between countries. They wrote a document that describes the purpose of the UN, called a charter . They decided that the UN would officially start on October 24, 1945, almost two months after the end of World War II.

▸ A Security Council meeting

▸ The UN’s headquarters in New York City

Fifty-one countries were excited to join the UN right away. They each sent a representative to the first meeting of the General Assembly in London. The General Assembly is made up of the representatives of every country. The representatives are called ambassadors. Over time, more countries joined the UN. As of 2023, 193 countries are part of the UN. The General Assembly meets each year for nine days in New York City. In 1949, the UN built its main offices in New York City.

The UN has different parts called councils. The Security Council helps

The flags of all member countries fly outside the UN building. UN flag

find solutions to arguments between countries. The five countries that started the UN are always members of the Security Council. The General Assembly chooses ten other countries to join the Security Council for two years.

The Security Council votes on their decisions, called resolutions. A resolution becomes a law that all countries of the UN must follow. The original five countries wanted to keep themselves safe from decisions that could hurt them. Therefore, they have the power to veto, or throw out, a resolution.

charter - a document that describes the purpose of an organization ambassadorrepresentative to the UN resolutionsdecisions veto - throw out

The UN is involved in many other important activities, too. In 1946, the UN started UNICEF. UNICEF stands for United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund. UNICEF is an organization that helps support children in poor parts of the world. They bring doctors and teachers to places that have no hospitals or schools.

Another important part of the UN is the World Food Program, also called the WFP. The WFP gives food to almost 100 million people throughout the world.

The UN runs many programs to help people all over the world. It is hard to imagine a world without the UN.

A meeting of the General Assembly

Question REVIEW

1. What is the main goal of the United Nations?

a. To keep the peace between countries

b. To provide food to poor countries

c. To send soldiers to protect dangerous places

d. To choose new members for the Security Council

2. How many countries are members of the UN as of 2023?

a. 57

b. 163

c. 193

d. 211

3. Which part of the UN helps support children in poor parts of the world?

a. World Food Program

b. General Assembly

c. Security Council

d. UNICEF

4. How do the Security Council’s resolutions affect countries that are part of the UN?

5. Name two countries that are always members of the Security Council.

6. Do you think the world would look different without the UN? If yes, how?

WHO WORKS AT THE UNITED NATIONS?

Here are some jobs people have working for the United Nations.

• Ambassadors: These are representatives from the countries that are part of the UN. They come to the UN to talk about important issues and make decisions for their countries. Ambassadors are sometimes called diplomats.

• Peacekeepers: These are soldiers and police officers who help keep peace in different

Based on the above information, match the following jobs to the people who do them.

parts of the world. They go to places where there is fighting and try to stop it so people can live safely.

• Humanitarians: These are people who help others in need, such as those affected by natural disasters, like hurricanes and earthquakes. They give food, places to live, and medical care to people who need it.

1. Protect the people caught in the middle of a Civil War in Bosnia

2. Provide places to live for people whose homes were destroyed in a flood

3. Help find medicines for diseases

4. Ask the General Assembly to help their country

5. Send equipment to UN peacekeepers

• Scientists and experts: These are people who have special knowledge about medicine or technology. They help the UN make decisions on these issues.

• Secretariat staff: The Secretariat staff are the people who help run the United Nations organization every day. They work in the UN headquarters in New York City.

A. Humanitarians

B. Scientists and experts

C. Ambassadors

D. Secretariat staff

E. Peacekeepers

Did you know?

• Some people say that 200 million people would have died if a nuclear war would have broken out.

• In Russia, they call the event the Caribbean Crisis because Cuba is an island in the Caribbean Sea.

▸ Fidel Castro became the leader of Cuba in 1959. With leader of the USSR Nikita Khrushchev.

▸ Calculation of missile damage ▸ Location of missile site

▸ President Kennedy speaking to newspaper reporters during the crisis

MISSILE SHELTER TENT

MISSILE ERECTOR CABLE

TRACKED PRIME MOVERS

FUEL TANK TRAILERS

OXIDIZER TANK TRAILERS

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BRITANNICA

CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS

When two countries have a problem, their leaders have to make a big decision. They can either fight each other in a war, or they can talk and try to work things out peacefully. Fighting a war can be dangerous, and many people can get hurt or even die. But countries don’t have to fight! By talking and trying to find a solution, the world can be a safer and happier place for everyone.

States and the Soviet Union were the strongest countries in the world. Each country tried to get more allies than the other. Countries that help each other are allies. The Soviet Union, also called the USSR, controlled half of Europe. The other half of Europe was allies with the U.S. The USSR and the U.S. were enemies, and each wanted to be stronger.

In 1959, Fidel Castro became the leader of Cuba, and Cuba became allies with the USSR. Cuba is a small country very close to the U.S. The United States stopped doing business with Cuba and even tried attacking them for becoming allies with the USSR. The U.S.

▸ Kennedy and Khrushchev at

Florida

100 miles

Cuba Jamaica Haiti

North Atlantic Ocean

Gulf of Mexico

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also put nuclear missiles in Italy and Turkey to warn the USSR not to attack the U.S. and its allies. Nuclear missiles are very strong and much more dangerous than other weapons. Italy and Turkey were both close to the USSR, and the missiles could reach the USSR very quickly. The Soviet Union was angry over these missiles the United States had placed in Italy and Turkey.

In 1962, the Soviet Union put nuclear missiles in Cuba. The missiles could reach the United States in a few minutes. The USSR wanted to have nuclear weapons near the U.S. to deter, or stop, the U.S. from attacking them with their weapons in Europe.

On October 14, 1962, a U.S. spy plane found the missiles in Cuba. President John F. Kennedy had to decide whether he should fight Cuba and destroy the missiles or not. He demanded that the USSR remove the missiles from Cuba. Nikita Khrushchev, the leader of the USSR, refused.

The people of the U.S. were very afraid that a nuclear war would break out. Schools taught the students how to hide safely in a war, and bomb shelters were built in many public places. Bomb shelters are rooms strong enough to protect people from bombs. Many families stocked up on supplies, such as canned foods and bottled water.

After more than two weeks, the leaders of the two countries finally reached an agreement. The Soviet Union agreed to remove the missiles from Cuba if the U.S. removed its missiles from Europe. This event, called the Cuban Missile Crisis, ended on October 29. A crisis is a very bad or scary event.

nuclear missiles - very dangerous weapons deter - stop bomb shelters - rooms strong enough to protect people from bombs

crisis - a very bad or scary event

When the two countries realized how close they were to a nuclear war, they created the Moscow–Washington hotline. This was a special telephone between the U.S. and the USSR so their leaders could talk to solve such a crisis. They also each got rid of a lot of nuclear weapons to make the world safer.

▸ The exhibition of the Soviet weapon devoted to memory of the Caribbean Cuban missile crisis

▸ Soviet freighter escorted by a United States Navy as it leaves Cuba loaded with missiles signaling the end of Cuban Missile Crisis. October 1962.

Question

1. How did the U.S. find out about the missiles in Cuba?

a. Cuban spy

b. U.S. spy plane

c. Tourists called the police

d. Russian spy

2. When did a U.S. spy plane find missiles in Cuba?

a. October 14, 1962

b. May 14, 1962

c. October 24, 1963

d. October 14, 1992

3. How did the Cuban missile crisis end?

a. The United States fought with Cuba.

b. Both countries agreed to remove their missiles.

c. The Soviet Union began a war with the U.S.

d. Both countries agreed to destroy their nuclear weapons.

4. Why did the U.S. put nuclear weapons in Italy and Turkey?

5. Who was the U.S. president during the Cuban Missile Crisis?

FRIENDS AND ENEMIES IN EUROPE

The countries colored green were allies with the U.S. They agreed to help each other if the USSR would attack one of them. The USSR and its allies are colored orange. The white countries were neutral, meaning they didn’t want to fight with anyone.

1. Which of the following countries was an ally of the USSR?

a. Belgium b. The United States

c. Poland d. France

2. Which of the following countries was neutral?

a. Spain b. Greece

c. Norway d. Portugal

3. Which of the following countries was an ally of the U.S.?

a. Albania b. Sweden

c. Hungary d. United Kingdom

4. Sweden was .

a. Neutral

b. Allies with the U.S.

c. Allies with the USSR

5. Why do you think a country would want to remain neutral?

INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION

Can you imagine living up in space? A few times a year, a group of six or seven astronauts make the journey to space to spend a few months living on the International Space Station and doing science experiments there. What exactly is the International Space Station?

The International Space Station symbol

Did you know?

• The ISS is the largest object ever flown in space!

• There have been 257 spacewalks at the ISS since 1998.

• There have been 244 people who have made the space journey and spent time on the ISS.

The International Space Station (ISS) is a station that floats in space. The ISS doesn’t look like a regular station on earth. It has room for astronauts to live and research space. It orbits Earth at 17,500 mph. To orbit means to travel around a planet in space. It stays 220 miles above Earth and is the largest orbiting satellite. A satellite is a machine that orbits different planets and collects information about them.

The ISS was manufactured on Earth by the USA, Russia, Japan, Canada, and some European countries. Manufacture means to build something using machines. Each country built parts of the station, which were delivered to space by U.S. and Russian spaceships. The pieces were connected in space, and on November 2, 2000, the first astronauts moved in. The first people to live on the International Space Station were an American

▸ People on the ISS floating around due to zero gravity

▸ ISS amblem

▸ Astronaut Mike Hopkins on a spacewalk to Earth in the background

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▸ Astronauts at mealtime on the ISS WIKIPEDIA WIKIPEDIA

Since 2000, there have always been people living on the station. Crews of up to six members live on the ISS for six months at a time to research what happens to people who live in space for a long time. The astronauts also go on spacewalks. When astronauts leave the station to float in space, they are space walking. Astronauts spacewalk to do experiments and fix parts of the ISS. The astronauts are attached to the ISS by ropes during the entire spacewalk to keep them from floating away.

orbit - to move around a planet in space in a curved path satellite - a manmade object that orbits different planets and collects information about them manufacture - to build something using machines gravity - the force that pulls things downwards to the ground

Life on the ISS is very different from life in a house on Earth. There is very little gravity in space. Gravity is the force that pulls things downwards to the ground. With less gravity in space, everything floats around. The astronauts must tie their sleeping bags to the wall so they don’t float around the station while they sleep! Astronauts drink from tubes or bags and eat food from pouches so their meals don’t float around. Even getting clean is difficult, and astronauts can only use towels and wipes instead of showers. Astronauts also do a lot of exercise in space.

The ISS costs the U.S. government about $3 billion each year and was supposed to close in 2024. In December 2022, President Biden said that the ISS would stay open until 2030 to help us understand space even more.

▸ Two astronauts on a spacewalk

Electric cables

Node 3 Pirs

Module

Soyuz Spacecraft

Antennas

Magnetic Spectrometer

Retractable metal framework

Truss

Radiator Panes

Columbus Cupola Progress Spacecraft

Question REVIEW

1. Spaceships from which two countries delivered ISS parts to space?

a. USA and Canada

b. Russia and Japan

c. USA and Russia

d. USA and Japan

2. Which of the following is NOT true?

a. The ISS is a satellite

b. The ISS has gravity inside

c. The ISS is a science research station

d. The ISS is a spacecraft

3. What is a spacewalk?

a. A satellite collecting information

b. A satellite orbiting

c. An astronaut floating outside the space station

d. An astronaut exercising in space

4. When did the first astronauts move into the ISS?

5. Why do you think scientists want to research what happens to people who live in space for a long time?

WHAT’S IN A SPACESUIT?

Every time an astronaut goes on a spacewalk, they wear a special spacesuit. Look at the parts of the spacesuit and answer the questions below.

Fill in the blanks:

1. Astronauts wear to keep warm.

Display

Gloves: Astronauts use special gloves with heaters.

Colored

Cooling garment: A special piece of clothing inside the space suit with tubes of cool water to keep the astronaut cool during a long spacewalk

HUT:

2. The is to make sure astronauts don’t overheat during a spacewalk.

3. help us tell astronauts apart from each other.

4. The is worn as a backpack.

control module: The Display Control Module (DCM) is a computer screen that controls the backpack.

stripes: Each astronaut wears a different color.

Lower torso: The Lower Torso is designed to protect the astronaut’s legs while allowing them to move freely.

The Hard Upper Torso (HUT) is the part of the spacesuit that protects the astronaut’s upper body.

PLSS: The Portable Life Support System is worn like a backpack and provides oxygen, water, and electricity for the astronaut’s safety in space.

Helmet: A special helmet covers an astronaut's head and neck.. The gold coating protects them from the strong sun rays. It also has a tube to provide the astronaut with oxygen.

TIME ZONES

Imagine you make up with your friend to call them at 2 p.m. Five minutes before 2 pm, you get ready to call, but your mother says that you need to wait another three hours. In New York, it’s 2 p.m., but in California where your friend lives, it is only 11 o’clock in the morning.

Until the 1800s, people would look at the sun to tell time. When the sun came up in the morning, they knew it was time to wake up. When the sun was high in the sky, they knew it was afternoon. But since the earth is round, what is afternoon in one place is still morning somewhere else. This means that while it’s bright and daytime in one place, it’s dark and nighttime in another place on the other side of the Earth.

Each town had a large town clock that was set based on the position of the sun. People in the town would look at the clock to know the time, and they would set their own clocks to the same time. This helped everyone in one town be on the same schedule.

▸ A sign in honor of the USA starting to use the time zone system

Did you know?

• Russia is split up into 11 time zones!

• China is a big country but chose to stay as one time zone. Therefore, in some places in China, the sun only rises at 10 am.

▸ Original four time zones in the USA in 1913

In the late 1800s, trains that traveled long distances were invented. When the railway companies tried to tell people what times the train would come, they realized that people would not know which town’s clock to use, and most people would probably miss their trains.

In 1878, Sir Sandford Fleming had the idea of creating a system of time zones. Instead of each town having its own time, he split the

▸ Time zones of the world in 2012

▸ Sir Sandford Fleming

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Time zones today for the United States

world into 24 parts. Each part had its own time that was an hour earlier than the time zone next to it.

time zones - parts of the world that have the same time multiple- a few implement - to put something into use official - made fully accepted

Greenwich, England, was chosen to be the center of time for the whole world. Each time zone to the west of Greenwich is one hour earlier. Each time zone to the east of Greenwich is one hour later. California is three time zones west of New York. That’s why when it is 2 pm in New York, it is 11 am in California. Most countries are in a one time zone, but some large countries, like the USA and Russia, are split into multiple, meaning a few, time zones.

On November 18, 1883, American railroads implemented Sir Sandford Fleming’s time zones. Implement means to put something into use. They used four time zones in the United States — Pacific, Mountain, Central, and Eastern.

In 1918, a law called The Standard Time Act made time zones official in the United States. Official means made fully accepted.

In 2023, the USA and its territories use nine time zones—Eastern, Central, Mountain, Pacific, Hawaii-Aleutian, Alaska, Samoa, Wake Island, and Guam.

▸

Question REVIEW

1. How much time does each time zone represent?

a. 24 hours

b. 8 hours

c. 4 hours

d. 1 hour

2. How many time zones are in the USA today?

a. 4

b. 9

c. 12

d. 24

3. Finish the sentence: Every time zone to the west of Greenwich is

a. One hour earlier b. One hour later

c. The same d. One day earlier

4. When did railroads implement the time zone system?

5. How did Sir Fleming’s idea affect railroad companies?

TIME ZONES IN THE USA

This map shows the time zones of the United States. Use this information to answer the following questions.

1. In which time zone is New York City found?

a. Eastern

b. Central

c. Mountain

d. Pacific

2. Which of the following cities is located in the Central time zone?

a. Phoenix

b. Memphis

c. Los Angeles

d. Boston

3. If it is 10 am in Atlanta, what time is it in Denver?

a. 4 pm b. 12 pm

c. 8 am d. 10 am

4. If it is 4 pm in Portland, what time is it in Detroit?

a. 4 pm b. 5 pm

c. 6 pm d. 7 pm

▸ Sugar was the first item to be rationed

▸ Each family in the U.S. got ration books like this one

▸ Gasoline was saved by limited selling

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Did you know?

• Many Americans grew their own fruits and vegetables in their gardens to add food to their rations.

• Some people used roasted barley to make fake coffee.

In 1941, the United States joined World War II (1939-1945) and sent millions of soldiers to fight. These soldiers needed a lot of food and equipment. To transport the food and equipment, the U.S. needed boats. As a result, many boat companies that shipped food allowed the army to use their boats for the war. Even companies that did not lend their boats to the army stopped shipping food because they didn’t want to get sunk by German submarines. The Germans patrolled, or guarded, the ocean and sank the ships of countries they considered enemies.

RATIONS

How much food do you think a person needs each day? If a person works at a desk, they need less food than someone who runs in a race. The more active a person is, the more food they need. That’s why soldiers fighting in a war need more food than people at home.

With no ships available, the U.S. could not bring in foods that grow in other countries. These foods became scarce, or less available, in the United States. Even foods that grow in the U.S. became scarce because a lot of it was taken for the army.

▸ Gasoline stamps

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▸ Washington, D.C. speed limits were lowered from 40 to 35 MPH to conserve gas

When there is not enough food, the prices start going up. The government realized that only rich people would be able to buy enough food. In 1942, the government started the Food Rationing Program. This program made laws rationing certain foods. To ration means to limit the food. Each family was given a ration book of stamps. Each food had a different type of stamp that said how much each person was allowed to buy. Some foods that were rationed were meat, cheese, and sugar. People were especially upset when coffee started being rationed on November 29, 1942.

patrolledguarded scarce - less available ration - limit challengingdifficult

Restaurants and ice cream stores also had fewer ingredients to make food. Some ice cream stores only sold one ice cream per customer, and some sold the second one for $100. That is worth about $1800 in 2023!

Other items were also rationed, like gasoline, bicycles, and shoes. These items use materials needed to make bullets and other war supplies.

After the war, food started becoming available, and the rationing system slowly ended. Coffee was the first food to come off the rationing list, and by 1946, rationing had ended. Although rationing was challenging, meaning difficult, it helped the U.S. win World War II.

▸ Coffee was also rationed

Question REVIEW

1. Why was food scarce in 1942?

a. People were fighting instead of making food.

b. There was no shipping, and the soldiers needed a lot of the food.

c. The government closed the farms.

d. Diseases destroyed many crops.

2. Which program was in charge of rationing foods?

a. The Military Supply Rationing Program

b. The Clothing Rationing Program

c. The Food Rationing Program

d. The Fuel Rationing Program

3. When did food rationing end in the United States?

a. 1941 b. 1942

c. 1945 d. 1946

4. Why couldn’t boats ship food items during World War II?

5. Why do you think people were especially upset when coffee was rationed?

6. Name two items that were also rationed during World War II, besides food.

ITEMS THAT WERE RATIONED DURING WORLD WAR II

This is a list of some foods and other items that were rationed in the U.S. during World War II. People found creative ways to make do with less, although some substitute items worked better than others.

ITEM RATION AMOUNT

Sugar 1 pound per person per week

Meat 3/4 pound per person per week

Butter 1/4 pound per person per week

Gasoline Only an amount you can prove was needed for work and travel

Tires Only with proof of a real need

Shoes Only with proof of a real need

Coffee One pound every five weeks per person

Eggs One a week per person

Lumber Only with proof of a real need

Bicycles Only with proof of a real need

1. Which of the following do you think people did NOT use in place of sugar?

a. Honey b. Acorns

c. Corn syrup d. Molasses

2. Which of the following do you think was considered a need for a bicycle?

a. Doing exercise

b. Getting to work

c. Going to the park

d. Delivering newspapers

3. Which of the following do you think was considered a need for lumber?

a. Building a new porch

b. Fixing a leaky roof

c. Making wooden spoons

d. Building fences for farms

LABOR UNIONS

Before the 1800s, everything was made by hand. Making clothing or shoes was difficult and took a very long time. In the 1800s, many machines were invented to easily produce all types of products. However, they also made life difficult for the workers who ran them.

In the 1800s, factories full of new machines opened. Many different items were produced in the factories. They were huge rooms filled with people working at machines the entire day.

The machines were very big and dangerous to use. The owners would hire anyone to do the dangerous work, even children. They did not care about their workers and paid them very little. This forced the workers to work long hours to make enough money for their families. These huge factories were sometimes called sweatshops because people were forced to work so hard, it made them sweat. The factory owners made a lot of money from hiring many people

▸ This is a small sweatshop from the early 1900s

Did you know?

• In 1794, shoemakers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, started the Federal Society of Journeymen Cordwainers, which some people call the first labor union.

• The Boston Police went on strike for a few days in 1919.

to work for such long hours. If the workers complained, they were fired, and other people took their places. Some sweatshops locked the workers in the factory the entire day to stop them from taking breaks.

On November 15, 1881, a group of workers met in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and began a labor union called the American Federation of Labor, or AFL for short. A labor union is a group of people who represent a lot of workers who all want the same things. The AFL demanded shorter working hours, safer conditions, and

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sweatshop - factory where workers sweat from being forced to work so hard labor union - a group of people who represent a lot of workers who all want the same things

wages - pay strike - when a lot of workers stop working at the same time

better wages for all the members of the group. The pay a worker gets are his wages.

The AFL arranged strikes to force the factory owners to listen to the workers’ demands. A strike is when a lot of workers stop working at the same time. The AFL represented millions of workers who all joined the strike. When all of their workers stopped working, the owners lost a lot of money. They had no choice but to pay their workers better. Over time, more unions were started, forcing even more companies to pay their workers higher wages.

In 1955, the AFL joined another union called the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO). Together, they became the AFLCIO, the biggest and most powerful union in the U.S. In 1979, they had 20 million members. As of 2023, there are 12 million members of the AFC-CIO. Many members left the union when Congress passed laws to protect workers in the 1980s.

Most jobs offer extra benefits besides payment, such as allowing workers to take a certain amount of time off or helping pay for doctors. These benefits are the result of the work of unions like the AFL.

▸ A New Jersey protest arranged by the AFL-CIO

Question REVIEW

1. What is the name of the union formed by the AFL and CIO in 1955?

a. AFL-CIO

b. AFL-COO

c. AFL-CI

d. AFLO

2. Which of the following is a benefit that jobs offer?

a. Safe working conditions

b. Days off

c. Free lunch

d. Babysitting

3. Who did the factory owners hire to work in the 1800s?

a. Skilled workers

b. Children

c. Adults

d. Anyone

4. Why were the factories called sweatshops?

5. Do you think machines made life easier or harder for people in the 1800s?

6. What were some of the AFL’s demands?

SOME UNIONS IN THE USA

The following chart shows when some unions in the USA started and the types of workers they represent.

Fill in the blanks based on the above chart.

1. The UMWA started representing in 1890.

2. The started in 1979 and has members.

3. Three million teachers are represented by the .

4. The most recent union to open was the , in 1979.

5. There are members of the IAFF.

6. Why do you think the UMWA has the least number of members?

Bus Boycott led to similar boycotts in other cities, such as Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Tallahassee, Florida.

• Rosa Parks was a hardworking student at school. However, she had to stop studying when she was 16 to look after her very ill grandmother and then her mother. After she married, she went back to school and achieved her high school diploma.

It can be tough to do the right thing when everyone else is doing something wrong. But Rosa Parks showed us that even one person can make a big difference. She realized that some laws were unfair and decided to stop them

▸ Black people were not allowed to use many of the same public places as white people

For many years, some states in the United States had laws that treated black people worse than other people. Black people were not allowed to use many of the same public places as white people. Every store had two restrooms, one with a sign that read “Whites Only.” The other was only for black people. Using the wrong restroom was illegal. When a person breaks the law, they are doing something illegal. Black people had to sit in the back of city buses. There were many other laws that treated black people like they were worth less than other people.

On December 1, 1955, a black seamstress named Rosa Parks boarded a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. A woman who sews clothing is a seamstress. Parks sat down in the proper part of the bus. The bus filled up, and there were not enough seats for all the white passengers. Passengers are the people who are traveling by bus, car, plane, or train. The bus driver instructed Parks and three other black passengers to stand up for a white person. The other passengers stood up, but Parks

▸ A plaque at the bus stop where Parks was arrested

▸ Rosa Parks police report and police officer taking fingerprints during arrest

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refused to give up her seat. The bus driver warned Parks that he was going to call the police, to which she responded, “You may do that.”

Rosa Parks was arrested, and her trial was set for December 5. The black community of Montgomery, Alabama, arranged a bus boycott for the day of Parks’ trial. A boycott is when a group of people stop using a specific store or service. This would cost the city a lot of money and hopefully convince them to stop the unfair laws. On December 5, all black people in Montgomery either walked or took taxis, but none of them took buses. The court said that Parks was guilty and made her pay $14, which is worth about $150 in 2023.

The people of Montgomery decided to continue the boycott. Thousands of people helped the boycott by giving each other rides. Some white people also gave rides to black boycotters. The city of Montgomery lost a lot of money each day the boycott continued.

The boycott lasted for 381 days, until June 1956. Shortly after, the Supreme Court said that separate seating on buses cannot continue to be the law.

In 1996, the president of the U.S. gave Parks an award for fighting unfair laws. She was also honored by Congress in 1999. Parks was 92 when she died in 2005.

illegal - against the law seamstress - a woman who sews clothing passengerspeople who are traveling by bus, car, plane, or train boycott - when a group of people stops using a specific store or service

▸ On December 5, all black people in Montgomery either walked or took taxis, but none of them took buses

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Question REVIEW

1. What was Rosa Parks’ response to the bus driver when he threatened to call the police?

a. “I’m sorry, I’ll give up my seat.”

b. “I’ll stand up.”

c. “I’ll move to the back of the bus.”

d. “You may do that.”

2. When did the bus boycott start?

a. December 1, 1955

b. December 5, 1955

c. December 1, 1956

d. December 5, 1954

3. How long did the boycott last?

a. 1 day

b. 5 days

c. 381 days

d. 143 days

4. What did the bus driver ask Rosa Parks and other black passengers to do?

5. What was the point of the bus boycott?

6. Why do you think the people decided to continue the boycott?

LEGAL OR ILLEGAL?

For a long time, there were laws that were unfair to black people. Below are a few of the laws and the years they started and ended. Once a law was ended, it became illegal to use the law to treat black people unfairly.

Based on the above chart, write if the following situations were legal or illegal.

1. In 1888, the principal of Alabama Public School did not accept Tim because he was black.

2. In 1901, a landlord in Georgia refused to rent an apartment to a black family.

3. In 1930, a bus company in Alabama said that black passengers have to sit in the back of the bus.

4. In 1950, a park in Arkansas had separate areas for white and black visitors.

5. In 1970, a voting booth in Louisiana said that black people have to take a reading test before voting.

THE CHUNNEL

Trains were invented in 1804 and became a popular way to travel long distances. Many travelers enjoyed watching the passing towns and fields. In 1986, long after trains were invented, the Chunnel was built. The Chunnel is a special tunnel for trains to travel under the sea between England and France.

The countries of England and France are separated by a long channel of water. A channel is a water passageway between two pieces of land. The water is called the English Channel and is a little more than 21 miles wide. For many years, the only way to travel from one country to the other was by boat, which took a long time. Traveling by airplane is faster than by boat but can cost a lot of money.

In 1802, Albert Mathieu had the idea of building a tunnel between England and France. This would be a better mode, or way, of travel between the two countries. It would make it more

tunnels.

Did you know?

• The Chunnel is the third-longest train tunnel in the world.

• The Chunnel is the longest underwater tunnel in the world.

convenient for them to do business with each other. Something that is easy to do is convenient. In the late 1800s, an English company tried to build the tunnel but gave up after the tunnel kept collapsing.

In the 1980s, the British and French governments hired a company to see if they could build the tunnel. They said that it was possible to build the tunnel with newer technology than what was available in the 1800s. In 1986, England and France signed the Treaty of Canterbury, allowing a tunnel between the countries.

▸ Huge drills like these were used to create the

▸ On December 1, 1990, the tunnels met, and the flags of England (right) and France (left) were passed through the small hole.

▸ Working on the Chunnel 150 feet under the English Channel

It took six years, from 1988 until 1994, to build the tunnel, which cost about nine million euros. The euro is the money used by many countries in Europe. About 13,000 workers dug 150 feet below sea level to build three tunnels connecting the two countries. Each country began the tunnel from their side, and on December 1, 1990, the tunnels met. Graham Fagg from England and Phillippe Cozette from France were the first to meet in the middle of the tunnel.

It took another four years for the tunnel to be ready for use. In May 1994, the tunnel opened. The tunnel through the channel is called the Chunnel. The Chunnel consists of three tunnels. Two tunnels are for trains, and the third is for people to use in an emergency. The third tunnel is also used by maintenance workers. Maintenance workers are people who make sure things are in good condition. The trains are very large and are able to carry cars and trucks! The tunnels are 31 miles long and take a little longer than half an hour to cross. A ticket for the Chunnel train costs about $200.

Each year, almost ten million people cross the Chunnel. About four million tons of goods also cross the Chunnel each year. That’s the same weight as 20,000 elephants!

Question REVIEW

1. When did the two sides of the Chunnel meet?

a. January 1, 1980

b. December 1, 1990

c. May 6, 1990

d. December 10, 1990

2. Why did an English company try to build the tunnel in the late 1800s but gave up?

a. It was too expensive to build.

b. They did not have enough tools.

c. The tunnel kept collapsing.

d. They ran out of workers.

3. Who had the idea of building a tunnel between England and France in 1802?

a. Albert Mathieu

b. Phillippe Cozette

c. Graham Fagg

d. John Smith

4. What is the name of the body of water separating England and France?

5. Why do you think the tunnel is called The Chunnel?

6. Why did the tunnel keep collapsing in the 1800s and not when they built it in 1988?

A CLOSE-UP LOOK AT A TUNNEL BORING MACHINE

Building tunnels for cars and trains takes a special machine created just for tunnels. A tunnel boring machine (TBM) is a huge machine that drills through rock and soil to create a tunnel. This is a picture of a TBM.

Are the following statements true or false? If the statement is false, explain why.

Concrete panels: After digging the tunnel, the machine lines the walls with concrete panels to support the tunnel.

The conveyor belt: The conveyor belt carries the rock or soil away from the cutting head. The conveyor gets longer as the machine continues digging and carries the dirt out of the tunnel.

The cutting head: This is the front of the machine that cuts through the rock or soil to create the tunnel. The tunnel shield: This is the main part of the machine that surrounds the cutting head and has room for workers. It keeps the soil or rock from collapsing after being cut.

1. Some tunnel-boring machines have restrooms in the tunnel shield.

2. The conveyor belt gets longer as the machine continues digging.

3. The tunnel walls are made of steel.

4. TBMs are used to make tunnels for trains and cars.

Trailing gear: This is a set of equipment that follows behind the machine with smaller machines the workers might need. Some even include restrooms and a kitchen!

Did you know?

• The USSR was the largest country in the world, at over 13 million square miles.

• In 1957, the USSR became the first country to send a satellite, Sputnik 1, to space.

THE RISE AND FALL OF THE SOVIET UNION

For hundreds of years, Russia was ruled by kings. The kings, called czars, did not care about their subjects very much. Someone ruled by a king is a subject. The czars gave power to a few rich people, and everyone else was poor and unhappy. In the early 1900s, the people of Russia decided that it was time for a change.

▸ The Russian czars lived in palaces like these.

▸ Vladimir Lenin led the USSR for its first two years.

▸ Vladimir Lenin

▸ Soviet Union emblem

▸ Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin

▸ Soviet Union flag

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WIKIPEDIA

In 1917, Vladimir Lenin led the people of Russia in a revolution against the czars. A revolution is when the people of a country fight against their government. The Russian Revolution lasted until 1922 when Lenin’s army put down all the enemies of the Revolution.

Vladimir Lenin became the new leader of Russia and renamed it the USSR. USSR stands for Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Lenin ran the country with a communist government. Communism is a type of government where the government owns everything. The government gives everyone a job and provides them with food and everything they need to live. Lenin said that communism would make everyone’s life easier and happier. Lenin led the country for two years until he died in 1924.

After Lenin died, Joseph Stalin became the ruler of the USSR. Stalin wanted to make the Soviet Union into a rich country with plenty of food. He ordered millions of people to work in factories and on large farms owned by the government. Anyone who didn’t cooperate with Stalin’s plan was killed or sent to prison. This caused

▸ Soviet Union on the map of the world

▸ Joseph Stalin became the ruler of the USSR after Lenin died

▸ Stalin forced people to work in new factories

▸ Propaganda posters for work WIKIPEDIA

millions of people to die. Stalin also arrested millions of people for disagreeing with communism. These people were either killed or sent to labor camps.

After World War II, the USSR took over many countries and became one of the two superpowers in the world. When a country has a lot of power, it is a superpower. The other superpower was the United States. The two superpowers hated each other and were always ready for a war to break out between them.

Communism did not make the people happy or rich. In the 1980s, people began to march in the street to show that they were unhappy with the government. Many people went to prison for joining these marches.

In 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev became the leader of the Soviet Union. Gorbachev gave people the freedom of speech. This was the first time people could march against the government without punishment. Most people in the USSR were happy with their new freedom. However, many werewere still very poor and were unhappy with Gorbachev.

Some people in the government did not want communism in Russia to end. They were unhappy that Gorbachev was giving people freedom. In August 1990, eight members of the government tried to appoint a new leader. They wanted a strict ruler who would not give people any freedom. They failed because the army also wanted more freedom, and the eight were arrested.

When some of the countries ruled by the USSR saw that the army would not fight for a communist government, they declared independence. On December 25, 1991, Gorbachev officially broke up the USSR. The rest of the countries of the USSR became independent, and the Russian people voted for a leader for the first time ever.

subject - someone ruled by a king revolution - when the people of a country fight their government communism - type of government where the government owns everything superpower - a country with a lot of power

▸ Map showing the Soviet Union before and after collapse

▸ Mikhail Gorbachev

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WIKIPEDIA

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Question REVIEW

1. What does USSR stand for?

a. United States of Soviet Republics

b. Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

c. United Soviet States of Russia

d. Union of Socialist Soviet Republics

2. Who became the leader of the USSR in 1924?

a. Vladimir Lenin

b. Joseph Stalin

c. Mikhail Gorbachev

d. Alexander Kerensky

3. What were the two superpowers in the world after World War II?

a. USSR and China

b. USSR and Germany

c. USSR and the United States

d. USSR and Great Britain

4. Who led the Russian Revolution in 1917?

5. What type of government was established in Russia after the Russian Revolution?

6. Why do you think Gorbachev gave people freedom of speech?

COMMUNISM VS. CAPITALISM

Communism:

The government owns all property and materials. The government does all the business and gives everyone a job. The government also supports everyone. The goal of communism is that everyone should have the same amount instead of some people being richer than others.

Capitalism:

Property and materials are owned by private people. People open businesses and factories to earn money. The businesses that people open give other people jobs to support themselves. The business owner usually makes a lot more money than his workers, but if the business fails, only he loses money because he must still pay his workers.

Are the following sentences true about communism or capitalism? Check the proper box.

What is the difference between communism and capitalism? COMMUNISM CAPITALISM

1. The government owns the factory and decides how to use the profits.

2. Private people develop a new product and sell it to earn money.

3. Everyone has the same amount of money given to them by the government.

4. People can start their own businesses but might lose their money if the business fails.

5. Private companies decide how much to pay their workers.

Did you know?

About a week before the Wright brothers invented the airplane the newspapers said that it would take another 100 years before someone invented the

▸

House where the Wright brothers grew up

THE WRIGHT BROTHERS

People have dreamed of taking flight for hundreds of years, but it wouldn’t be until December 17, 1903, that it would happen on a small field in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

Wilbur and Orville Wright were born in Ohio in 1867 and 1871. As children they enjoyed building toys for themselves. When their father gave them a toy helicopter, they played with it until it broke. Then they built a new one to replace it. This sparked, or began, their interest in flying, and they began reading a lot about experiments people had done to try to create a flying machine.

In 1892, Wilbur and Orville opened a bicycle shop in Dayton, Ohio. They also started a successful bicycle company. They used the profits to research and experiment with flying. They spent hours studying how other people tried to create a flying machine. They designed and built gliders to experiment with. A glider is an airplane without an engine that only flies once it is already in the air.

In 1900, the brothers were ready to test their gliders. They needed a quiet area with strong winds for flying and soft ground for landing. Wilbur studied the National Weather Service records of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, and chose to test the gliders there. The brothers built a

▸ Wilbur Wright ▸ Orville Wright

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sparked - began glider - an airplane without an engine that only flies once it is already in the air altitude - The height of something in the air refueled - filled with gas

tower and flew the gliders from the tower. The brothers spent many months in Kitty Hawk testing and improving their gliders. They needed a glider that could fly smoothly and have a person control it.

In 1903, they invented the first glider that was fully controlled by the pilot. Pilots on earlier gliders were not able to switch directions and had to fly straight. Once their glider worked well, they started working on building an engine to power the glider. They built an engine to power propellers that kept the glider in the air. Propellers are machines that look like fans with blades that spin very quickly.

On December 17, 1903, they succeeded, and Orville Wright flew the first airplane. He flew their airplane, the Wright Flyer, for 12 seconds over 120 feet. The same day Wilbur flew for 59 seconds covering more than 800 feet. Their plane reached an altitude of 852 feet over the ground. The height of an airplane in the air is its altitude. Over the next few years, the Wright brothers improved the airplane to fly longer and quicker. In 1905, they flew 24 miles in 39 minutes.

After the Wright brothers’ airplane, many companies built airplanes that flew long distances. In 1939, the first passenger airplane flew across the Atlantic Ocean. After World War II (19391945), airplanes became the popular way of traveling. Airplanes in 2023 can carry up to 800 passengers for 10,000 miles before refueling. When an airplane runs out of gas it must be refueled. They can travel 600 miles per hour at 40,000 feet high. Over four billion people fly on passenger airplanes each year to travel all over the world.

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WIKIPEDIA

Question REVIEW

1. When did Orville Wright fly the first airplane?

a. December 17, 1903

b. December 27, 1903

c. April 17, 1913

d. December 17, 1921

2. How long did Orville Wright’s first flight last?

a. 12 minutes

b. 12 seconds

c. 2 minutes

d. 1 hour

3. How far did Wilbur Wright fly on December 17, 1903?

a. Over 600 feet

b. Over 80 feet

c. Over 800 feet

d. Over 500 feet

4. How did the Wright brothers become interested in the topic of flying?

5. Why do you think it was important to read about other people’s experiments before building their own gliders?

STUDY THE PLANE PARTS AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS

VERTICAL STABILIZER HORIZONTAL STABILIZER TURBO ENGINE

control yaw control pitch generate thrust FLAPS

FUSELAGE WING WINGLET

command and control holds things togethercarry payload

ELEVATOR RUDDER

change yaw generate lift decrease drag AILERON

increase lift change lift, drag and roll

6. Why do you think Wilbur Wright studied the National Weather Service records of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina? ▸ SOURCE: WWW.NASA.GOV

1. What is the front of the plane where the pilot sits called?

2. What are the two big fans on the side of the plane called?

THE HOMESTEAD ACT

Getting a free place to live sounds too good to be true, but for many years, the United States government gave free land to more than one million people! People were very excited when they heard they could get free land. However, it wasn’t as easy as it sounded

The 1800s was a time of growth for the United States. The cities in the eastern part of the United States were overpopulated. Overpopulated means overcrowded. Finding a job was challenging in the crowded cities. Even though more states were joining the country, many people did not want to move to these

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Did you know?

• Over 1.6 million people claimed land under the Homestead Act.

• In 1869, the first train across the USA was built, making it easier for people to travel to their homestead land.

new states in the west. The western part of the country did not have cities, roads, farms, or anything that people needed to live. This made it difficult to move there.

In 1862, Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act. An act is a law. The Homestead Act said that all U.S. citizens who were

▸ Families traveled in covered wagons like these.

▸ This certificate proved that a pioneer lived on his homestead for five years and now owned the land.

▸ A sign announcing the Homestead Act

overpopulatedovercrowded act - law

homesteadingdeveloping land into farms for food and everything else they need pioneers - the first people to travel to a new place

21 or older could get 160 acres of land in the west. That is the same size as 100 city streets. The land was free on the condition that each person had to live on the land for five years. When someone develops land into farms for food and everything else they need, they are homesteading. After five years, the government would give them the land for free. It cost just ten dollars to sign up for the right to claim land.

The Homestead Act began on January 1, 1862. A lot of people signed up to take advantage of this offer. People were happy to get free land and packed their belongings into wagons and started traveling westward. The homesteaders were also called pioneers for being the first people to travel to a new place. Most of the travelers were not ready for the hard trip. The journey passed through hot deserts, freezing mountains, and rainy and windy plains. Many travelers got sick, and a lot of people gave up and returned to their cities. Many travelers were unable to find food during the trip and died of hunger.

Once the pioneers crossed the Mississippi River, they chose a piece of land and began homesteading it. It took a lot of work to live on their new land. Pioneers had to build houses and barns, dig wells, and build fences around their land. They also had to plant food and raise animals in a new environment. Many people did not stay for the full five years, and others came in their place.

Many towns and cities in the western U.S. were founded by the pioneers. The Homestead Act lasted until 1976 for most of the U.S. By then, over one million homesteaders had received land and helped develop the United States.

Question REVIEW

1. How did the Homestead Act help settle the west?

a. By giving free land to citizens

b. By providing jobs

c. By building cities

d. By creating a new form of transportation

2. Why did some homesteaders return to their cities?

a. Their vacation was over.

b. They gave up during the difficult trip.

c. They missed their families.

d. They wanted better food.

3. How much land could people claim under the Homestead Act, and how much did they have to pay?

a. 80 acres and $5 b. 120 acres and $10

c. 160 acres and $10 d. 200 acres and $20

4. What two names were given to people who claimed land under the Homestead Act?

5. List three things the pioneers had to do once they arrived on their new land.

HOMES FOR THE HOMESTEADERS

When the pioneers reached their land in the western part of the U.S., they had many choices of how to build their new homes. This chart shows some types of homes they built. Look at the chart and answer the questions below.

TYPE OF HOME DESCRIPTION MATERIALS USED

Log cabin

Sod house

A small house made of logs, which were easy to find and cut down. A log cabin was good at keeping the cold out but could easily burn down in a fire.

A house made of blocks of dirt and grass, which were easy to find on the homesteaded land. A sod house gave good protection against the wind but was often damp.

1. Which of these houses was the strongest?

a. Adobe house b. Sod house

c. Dugout d. Stone house

Trees (wood)

2. Which material was used to build a log cabin?

a. Wood b. Dirt

c. Stones d. Mud

Dugout

Stone house

Adobe house

A house dug into the side of a hill or into the ground. A dugout stayed warm in the winter and cool in the summer but was often damp.

A strong house made of stones, which were difficult to find and had to be cut and fit together. A stone house was expensive and took time to build.

A house made of mud bricks that were dried in the sun. An adobe house was good at protecting against cold in the winter and heat in the summer.

Dirt, grass, and sometimes wood

Dirt, and sometimes wood

Stone and mortar

3. What was one disadvantage of building a sod house?

a. It was expensive.

b. It was damp.

c. It could easily burn down.

d. It was affected by the wind.

4. What was one advantage of building a sod house?

a. It was damp.

b. It was cold in the winter.

Mud and straw

c. It was made of materials that were easy to find.

d. It was strong.

▸ The state of Alaska is closer to Russia and Canada than it is to the rest of the United States.

Did you know?

• 17 of the 20 highest mountains in North America are in Alaska.

• There are more than 3 million lakes and over 6,000 rivers in Alaska.

▸ Fur trappers are people who hunt animals to sell their fur.

▸ Thousands of people came to search for gold

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WIKIPEDIA

ALASKA

Alaska is the largest state in the United States. It is more than double the size of the state of Texas. While Texas is home to almost 30 million people, less than one million people live in Alaska. Most people do not want to live in Alaska because of its cold weather.

Alaska is connected to Canada and is only 50 miles from Russia. In the late 1700s, Russian fur trappers began moving to Alaska, which was owned by Russia. Fur trappers are people who hunt animals to sell their fur.

Alaska has many animals with valuable furs, such as beavers and lynx.

In 1867, the ruler of Russia, Czar Alexander, decided to sell Alaska. When U.S. Secretary of State William Seward heard that Alaska was up for sale, he decided to buy it for the USA. He said that Alaska would help the U.S. do business with Asian countries, making it a profitable deal. Profitable business deals are those that make money. The Russians agreed to sell the entire Alaska for 7.2 million dollars. Russian soldiers lowered the Russian flag from the governor’s house and watched as the American flag was raised.

▸ Czar Alexander II

▸ Seal of Alaska

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fur trapperspeople who hunt animals to sell their fur profitablebusiness deals that make money prospectors - people who search for gold industrybusiness

The Russian citizens moved back to Russia, and for many years, just a few hundred people lived in Alaska. When gold was discovered in Alaska’s rivers and mountains, a gold rush started. That is when thousands of people come to search for gold. People who search for gold are called prospectors. Many people found gold, but most made money by selling food and other products to the prospectors. The prospectors built many towns and cities, which finally brought people to live in Alaska.

On January 3, 1959, Congress passed the Alaska Statehood Act, making Alaska the 49th state. President Eisenhower signed the law with six pens. Presidents sometimes use a few pens to sign important laws and give the pens out as souvenirs. After signing the Alaska Statehood Act, the president used another few pens to sign a law adding a 49th star to the American flag.

When oil was found in Alaska in 1968, William Seward was proven correct that Alaska would be valuable for the U.S. The oil industry , or business, supports most people living in Alaska. Despite its cold weather, Alaska’s gold and oil have made it a very valuable part of the United States.

▸ Anchorage has the largest population of all Alaskan cities. The city is surrounded by beautiful mountains

Question REVIEW

1. Who sold Alaska to the U.S.?

a. Vitus Bering

b. William Seward

c. Czar Alexander

d. George Washington

2. How is Alaska valuable to the USA?

a. It allows for a shorter travel route to Asia.

b. There is a lot of oil in Alaska.

c. It was cheap.

d. There are many mountains and rivers in Alaska.

3. How much did the USA pay for Alaska?

a. 2.7 million dollars

b. 7.2 billion dollars

c. 7.2 million dollars

d. 5.7 thousand dollars

4. What two countries are near Alaska?

5. Why do you think Czar Alexander may have wanted to sell Alaska?

ALL ABOUT ALASKA

This is a map of Alaska and its resources, such as rivers and mountain ranges. The map also includes the oceans and seas that surround the state.

1. Circle the two oceans near Alaska.

• Arctic • Atlantic

• Indian • Pacific

2. Circle the tallest mountain in Alaska.

• Denali (Mt. McKinley)

• Mt. Isto • Mt. Fairweather

3. Circle the cities with airports.

• Anchorage • Galena

• Juneau • Sitka

4. Do more people live in Anchorage or Fairbanks?

5. Name two mountain ranges in Alaska.

Did you know?

TWO U.S. PRESIDENTS

Calvin Coolidge and Theodore Roosevelt were U.S. presidents who led the United States in the early 1900s. Roosevelt served two terms as the 26th president from 1901 to 1909, while Coolidge served one and a half terms as the 30th president from 1923 to 1929. They were both vice presidents who took over when a president died

• Calvin Coolidge was called the “Silent President.”

• Calvin Coolidge was the first president to have a telephone in the White House.

▸ President Coolidge

should make laws to help people. He passed laws to stop people and companies from having a monopoly on products. A monopoly is when a company

Did you know?

Theodore Roosevelt started National

Theodore Roosevelt won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906.

• Theodore Roosevelt was the first president to visit another country (Panama) while president.

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▸ President Roosevelt

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is the only one selling a certain product. When a company has a monopoly on a product, they can charge a lot of money for it. By stopping monopolies, Roosevelt wanted to lower prices for American consumers, or shoppers. He also wanted to protect workers from unfair bosses. He was not afraid to do what he thought was best for the country.

Calvin Coolidge was President Warren G. Harding’s vice president. He became president in 1923 when Harding had a heart attack and died. Coolidge was Harding’s successor. Someone who takes over a person’s job is their successor. Coolidge was president for six years. He believed that the government’s job is to protect the freedom of Americans. Coolidge felt that the government should not get involved in how people do business. He believed that when the government doesn’t control business, people can come up with better business ideas and inventions.

The two presidents also had very different ways of managing foreign affairs . Foreign affairs deal with the relationship between different countries and how they handle matters between them. Roosevelt was very tough with other countries. He even passed a law that the U.S. would be the police for the countries near it. When Coolidge was president, he ended this law. Coolidge felt that the U.S. should focus on becoming strong, wealthy, and free for Americans.

Each of these presidents died in January. President Roosevelt died on January 6, 1919, at the age of 60. Coolidge was also 60 when he died on January 5, 1933. While their lives seem similar, their values were very different, and people argue about which president did a better job.

monopoly - when only one company sells a certain product consumersshoppers foreign affairsthe way a country treats other countries successor

someone who takes over a person’s job

Question REVIEW

1. How old were Roosevelt and Coolidge when they died?

a. Both were 60

b. Both were 70

c. Roosevelt was 60, and Coolidge was 70

d. Roosevelt was 70, and Coolidge was 60

2. How did Roosevelt deal with foreign affairs?

a. He made the U.S. the police for the countries near it.

b. He focused on the U.S. becoming strong, wealthy, and free for Americans.

c. He stayed away from the affairs of other countries.

d. He let nearby countries do what they wanted.

3. How many years was Calvin Coolidge’s presidency?

a. 4 years

b. 6 years

c. 8 years

d. 10 years

4. What did Theodore Roosevelt believe was the government’s job?

5. What did Calvin Coolidge believe was the government’s job?

6. Do you think it’s better for the government to get involved in how people do business or not? Explain why you feel this way.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST COOLIDGE AND ROOSEVELT

Fill the Venn diagram with the facts about each president. Write letters A-F in the correct space in the diagram below. If a fact is true about both presidents, write the letter in the middle space, where the circles overlap.

A. Believed that government should make laws to help people

B. 26th president of the United States from 1901 to 1909

C. Died in January

D. Ended U.S. policy to act like police over nearby countries

E. Was vice president when a president died

F. Focused on making U.S. strong, wealthy, and free

THEODORE ROOSEVELT BOTH CALVIN COOLIDGE

Did you know?

• The first word sent by telegraph was “what.”

• Once the cable lines were in place, it took only three minutes for a message to be sent from London to New York!

• By 1852, there were over 23,000 miles of telegraph wires in the United States of America.

• Railroad companies installed telegraph lines as a way of communicating with their trains about where they were and if there were going to be any delays.

▸ Western Union employees would listen to the beeps and write the message down. The messages were delivered looking like this.

▸ Telegraph machine

TELEGRAPH

Did you ever make up a secret code with a friend?

You would be able to talk to each other without anyone else understanding. Imagine making up a code and then telling it to everyone instead of keeping it a secret. Seems like there would be no point in that, but that’s exactly what Samuel Morse did.

In 1832, Samuel Morse was sailing home from Europe when he heard about the electromagnet. This was a new discovery that helped people create a lot of new machines. Samuel Morse also had an idea for this new discovery. His idea was the telegraph.

Morse spent a few years creating the telegraph. The telegraph was a machine that sent beeps through wires to other telegraph machines. The beeps were a code he made up and called Morse code. The telegraph was able to send the beeps very far. This allowed people to communicate a lot quicker than by mailing a letter. On January 6, 1838, Morse had a working telegraph machine.

Putting up enough wires for the telegraph to work long distances cost too much money for Morse. In 1843, Morse convinced Congress to build the first telegraph line in the United

▸ Samuel Morse

▸ Morse code. The dots are short beeps and the dashes longer beeps

WIKIPEDIA

States. They built a line from Washington, D.C., to Baltimore. In May 1844, Morse sent the first official telegram over the line. Messages sent using a telegraph are called telegrams.

Many telegram companies opened in big cities. To send a telegram, one would write the message on a piece of paper and give it to the worker in the telegram company. The worker would translate the message into Morse code and send the beeps to a telegram office in the recipient’s city. A recipient is a person who receives something. A worker in the recipient’s city would translate the message back into words. Finally, a delivery boy would bring the message to its recipient.

Over the next few years, private companies built telegraph lines connecting many cities. In 1851, Western Union opened. It became the biggest telegraph company. In 1861, Western Union finished building the first line across the entire U.S. Five years later, a line across the Atlantic Ocean began operation, meaning work. By 1900, telegraph systems were in place in almost the entire world.

Telegraph companies would charge for each word. The only free word was “stop.” People used this free word in place of a period because there were no periods in Morse code. The telegraph was used most in the 1920s and 1930s. During World War II, seeing Western Union employees made Americans nervous. The telegrams often informed families families of a soldier’s death.

During World War II, European Jews sent telegrams to American Jews begging for help.

Samuel Morse died wealthy and famous in New York City on April 2, 1872, at age 80. As long-distance phone calls became cheaper, people used the telegraph less. It is still possible to send someone a telegram today using a different telegraph company.

telegraph - a machine that sends beeps through wires to other telegraph machines telegrammessage sent using a telegraph machine recipient - a person who receives something operation - work

▸ Telegraph poles hold the wires that connect cities.

1. What did Western Union become famous for?

a. Building a telegraph line in Canada

b. Delivering the first telegram ever

c. Being the biggest telegraph company

d. Inventing the telegraph

2. What was the first telegraph line built in the United States used for?

a. Sending messages between Washington, D.C., and New York City

b. Connecting private companies in different cities

c. Transmitting information across the Atlantic Ocean

d. Sending messages between Washington, D.C., and Baltimore

3. What did the free word “stop” represent in a telegram?

a. The end of a telegram

b. A period

c. The letter “T”

d. A space

4. Which company built the first telegraph line across the entire United States?

5. What do you think was one disadvantage of using a telegraph?

6. Why do you think the first telegraph line across the United States was an important event?

CRACK THE CODE

Use the Morse Code Key below to figure out the question and create the answer

Morse Code Key

1. Here is a question written in Morse Code. Write the question out in regular letters.

2. Write the answer to the above question using Morse Code.

Did you know?

• The highest temperature ever recorded on Earth was 134 degrees Fahrenheit in California in 1913.

• The fastest wind gust ever recorded was 231 miles per hour in New Hampshire in 1934.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

For many years, the only way to know the weather was to walk outside. People had no warning if a storm was about to start or how many inches of snow to expect. There was also very little time to prepare before bad weather.

▸ The small machine hanging from the helium balloon sends information to computers to predict the weather.

▸ NWS headquarters WIKIPEDIA

WIKIPEDIA

On February 9, 1870, President Ulysses S. Grant signed a law creating the National Weather Service. The National Weather Service is usually called the NWS. The NWS opened many offices all over the United States to record the weather. To record means to keep track of something by writing it down. Every day, the office workers measured the temperature and other weather conditions in their city. Each office would send a telegraph with the weather information to the main NWS office in Washington, D.C. The main office still has records of every day’s weather in the entire U.S.

When dangerous weather conditions would hit a city, the office of that city would send a telegraph to Washington. The main office would quickly inform, or tell, all the cities about the danger. Each office would warn the people in their area.

▸ This satellite picture shows Hurricane Sandy heading toward the U.S. in 2012.

▸ Before serving as president, Ulysses S. Grant was a general in the Civil War.

▸ Hurricane Sandy WIKIPEDIA

record - keep track of something by writing it down inform - tell predict - saying what will happen in advance accurate - exact

In the 1900s, the NWS began sending machines miles into the air on helium balloons. The machines sent information about the weather to computers. The computers used that information to predict the weather. Predict is to say what will happen before it actually happens. The newspapers started printing weather predictions to help people plan their day.

In 2023, many tools are used to predict what the weather will be. One tool the NWS uses is radar to measure how strong the wind is blowing. It also uses satellites in space to take pictures of hurricanes, tornadoes, and other dangerous weather. Each invention helps the NWS understand the weather better. It also helps it to accurately predict the weather. The more accurate, or exact, the prediction is, the more helpful it is.

offices

This weather satellite takes pictures of the weather from space.

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Question REVIEW

1. Why didn’t the NWS predict the weather in 1870?

a. The technology was not invented yet.

b. They didn’t know how to measure the temperature.

c. They didn’t think it was necessary.

d. There was no way to print the weather yet.

2. Why do you think it is important to record the weather?

a. To predict weather patterns

b. To plan bus routes

c. To help emergency vehicles

d. To help clean the air

3. How do you think the NWS records the weather in 2023?

a. Workers telegraph the weather to the main office.

b. Computers do it automatically.

c. Satellites in space take videos of the weather.

d. They had enough records so they stopped.

4. When was the National Weather Service created?

5. Who signed the law creating the National Weather Service?

KEEPING TRACK OF THE WEATHER WITH THE NWS

This picture shows the different ways that the National Weather Service keeps track of the weather. There are stations on Earth and satellites in space to give the NWS as much information as possible. Look at the picture and answer the questions.

Circle the answer that belongs in the blank.

1. The soil moisture sensors help .

• Ships • Farmers • Airplanes • Animals

2. The NWS has machines to find lightning.

• Underwater • On land

• In the air

• In space

3. The NWS measures wind speed .

In space: Weather satellites - The U.S. has 11 satellites that take pictures of weather conditions from space.

In air: Weather balloons - These carry machines into the air to measure temperature, wind pressure, and humidity. On land:

1. Observation stations - These stations measure temperature, humidity, wind speed, and wind pressure on the land.

2. Lightning detection systems - These systems find lightning strikes, which helps to predict thunderstorms.

3. Soil moisture sensors - These help farmers by measuring how much water is in the soil.

• Underwater • On land

• In the air

• In space

4. The NWS sends machines into the air by .

• Balloon

• Helicopter

• Airplane

• Spaceship

5. How many weather satellites does the U.S. use?

COLUMBIA SHUTTLE

Staying safe is important, and there are things we can do to help prevent accidents. These things are called safety precautions. Some safety precautions are easy, like wearing a helmet when you ride your bike. Others are more complicated, like checking a space shuttle before it goes to space. Checking a space shuttle is called making an inspection. During an inspection, people look through the entire shuttle to make sure it works well.

NASA is the U.S. government agency that explores space. In 1981, NASA built a new space shuttle they named Columbia. Columbia went on 27 successful space missions before its last mission in 2003.

In January 2003, Columbia began a mission to do scientific experiments in space. There were seven astronauts on board for the 16-day trip. Columbia’s commander was Rick Husband, and its

Did you know?

• Worms that were used in an experiment and were stored in a container aboard the Columbia somehow survived the disaster.

▸ Columbia astronauts Thomas K. Mattingly and pilot Henry Hartsfield salute President Ronald Reagan, upon landing in 1982.

pilot was William McCool. The commander is the person in charge of the space shuttle.

Every mission to space needs a lot of people on the ground to help it. Flying to space can be very dangerous, and the astronauts are always in contact with mission control . Mission control tells them when they are safely in space and instructs them on the safest ways to do their experiments.

When Columbia took off, a piece of foam fell off the shuttle and flew into one of the wings. Mission control saw what happened and decided there was no reason to be concerned about any damage to Columbia. They did not warn the astronauts on board and took no safety precautions at all.

▸ Many space shuttles take off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida

▸ Mission control

▸ Shuttle take off

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safety precautions

- ways to make sure a person is being safe

inspection - when people check something to make sure it works commander - the person in charge mission control

- people on the ground who help the space missions

Columbia was supposed to land in Texas on February 1, 2003. Space shuttles travel at speeds of 12,000 miles an hour when they return to Earth. Columbia was almost 50 miles above the Earth when damage to the wing allowed hot gases around Earth into the shuttle. The shuttle broke into a few pieces of fire shooting through the sky. Newspaper reporters who came to welcome the astronauts home videoed the entire disaster. Broken pieces from Columbia spread over 2,000 miles in two states, and all the astronauts were killed.

NASA started a big investigation to figure out what happened. They discovered that mission control didn’t take the risk of damage to the spaceship seriously, so they didn’t do anything to protect the crew. Because of this, NASA took a break from doing space missions. Instead, they worked to make their shuttles safer. They also made new rules to help keep astronauts safe in the future. The disaster became known as the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. It is a reminder of the dangers of space travel and how important it is to use safety precautions.

▸ NASA’s investigation of this disaster WIKIPEDIA

▸ Pieces of shuttle falling through the sky

▸ Image from Columbia cockpit before disaster

Question REVIEW

1. What did NASA do after the disaster to improve the safety of its astronauts?

a. Nothing

b. Improved their space shuttles

c. Stopped exploring space

d. Started sending robots to space instead of people

2. How many successful missions did Columbia go on before its last mission in 2003?

a. 17 missions

b. 27 missions

c. 37 missions

d. 47 missions

3. How far did broken pieces from Columbia spread after the disaster?

a. Over 500 miles in one state

b. Over 1,000 miles in two states

c. Over 2,000 miles in two states

d. Over 3,000 miles in three states

4. What happened during the takeoff of Space Shuttle Columbia in January 2003?

This space shuttle just took off to space. Notice the big brown tank. It holds more than 500,000 gallons of fuel to power the rockets. The two long rockets on each side carry the orbiter to space. The orbiter is the part that looks like an airplane. That’s where the astronauts live and do experiments.

A lot of work happens before a space shuttle takes off to space. This timeline shows what happens to prepare for the blastoff.

5. What caused the Columbia shuttle to break apart while returning to Earth?

6. What do you think mission control learned from the disaster?

TIMELINE TO TAKEOFF

20 hours before blastoff: Preparation

• The crew reviews mission plans.

• Loading equipment and supplies into the orbiter

• Putting on the big side rockets and big gas tank

• Safety check

9 hours before blastoff: Fuel up

• Fill the tanks with fuel to bring the orbiter to space.

3 hours before blastoff: Final Countdown

• Final safety inspection by the crew

• Checking the weather

• Starting the engines and checking the systems

• Getting permission from mission control to take off

Takeoff

• Starting the engines

• Takeoff

• Going up into space

• The big side rockets and the big gas tank fall to the ground.

Rearrange the following steps in their proper order.

1. Takeoff

2. Safety check

3. Fill the tanks with fuel.

4. The crew reviews mission plans.

5. Mission control gives permission for the space shuttle to take off.

Answer:

NYLON

For many years, people used things from nature to make everything they needed. They used wool from sheep to make clothing and wood from trees to build homes. The only way to get these materials was to wait for more wool to grow on the sheep or more trees to grow. This meant they didn’t always have enough, and sometimes it was hard to get what they needed. It could also be expensive.

▸ Wallace Carothers

▸ Zippers are also made from nylon

new chemicals. The company hired Wallace Carothers to try to invent synthetic material. Synthetic means the product is made from materials not found in nature. In 1935, Carothers and his team of scientists created the first synthetic material. The DuPont company called their material nylon. They received a patent for nylon on February 16, 1937. A patent is a license from the government giving the owner and no one else the right to sell the product.

Did you know?

Many other synthetic materials were invented by scientists at DuPont, including spandex, kevlar, and Teflon.

Kevlar is used in guitar strings as well as army helmets.

▸ Nylon structure

▸ Manufacturing nylon

WIKIPEDIA

Nylon is made from coal, air, water, and petroleum. The fibers, or threads, are very strong and elastic. Something that is stretchy is elastic. Nylon can be made into long strands, similar to silk used for clothing. Nylon costs less than silk and can last a lot longer. It can also be made into a hard material strong enough for big machines.

DuPont introduced nylon to the public at the 1939 World Fair. People from all over the world came to the 1939 World Fair to see the inventions that would change the future. Everyone was really surprised when they saw nylon stockings at the DuPont booth. No one could believe that the soft material that felt like silk was actually synthetic. That year, DuPont sold 64 million pairs of nylon stockings.

Companies began using nylon to make many products. Nylon was soon one of the most popular materials in the world. It is used for many products because it is strong and lasts a long time. Since nylon was invented, it has been used to make almost every type of product. Most of our clothing contains nylon, and the cars and buses we ride in are made with nylon parts.

▸ The white gears that run many machines are made from nylon.

▸ Cable tie is made of nylon

▸ Coiled Nylon Rope

Question REVIEW

1. Who invented nylon?

a. Microsoft

b. Wallace Carothers

c. The government

d. John Doe

2. What is a patent?

a. A government document

b. A material used for production

c. a license giving only the owner the right to sell the product

d. An agreement between companies

3. Which is NOT true about nylon?

a. It is similar to silk threads.

b. It is cheap to produce.

c. It lasts a long time.

d. It is very weak.

SORT IT!

4. How are silk and nylon similar and different?

5. Why do you think DuPont chose the World Fair to show people nylon for the first time?

6. Name two products made from nylon.

Imagine you are cleaning out your house. You find a big, old box filled with things you forgot you ever had. You decide to sort the items into three bags, one bag for nylon items, one for metal, and one for wood.

Toy blocks

Tent

Fishing net

Door locks

Toothpicks

Hot water urn

BBQ skewers

Wire hangers

Rope

Backpack

Screws

Guitar

NYLON

WOODEN

ITEMS METAL ITEMS

ITEMS

▸ It cost 250 million dollars to repair the

Did you know?

• The World Trade Center was made up of more than 200,000 tons of steel and took nearly ten years to build.

• The new World Trade Center includes One World Trade Center, which is 1,776 feet tall. That is the year the United States became a country.

▸ The powerful explosion was meant to destroy both towers.

▸ The North Tower was 1,368 feet tall, six feet taller than the South Tower.

tower.

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FBI.ORG

1993 WORLD TRADE CENTER BOMBING

Have you ever heard of the World Trade Center in New York City? It’s a group of super tall buildings built in 1973, with two massive towers called the North Tower and the South Tower. These towers were so huge that they were actually the tallest buildings in the entire world! With almost 50,000 people working in the towers every day, the World Trade Center was the center of commerce, or business, in the United States.

When most people think of the World Trade Center they think of the attack on September 11th, 2001. But 9/11 was not the first time the WTC was attacked. Back in 1993 two terrorists carried out an attack on the these famous buildings.

On February 26, 1993, Ramzi Yousef parked a van in the underground parking lot of the North Tower of the World Trade Center. At 12:17 pm, a bomb in the van exploded, tearing a 100-foot hole through four floors. The explosion killed six people and injured over 1,000 more. Ramzi Yousef used a powerful bomb that weighed over 1,000 pounds. He wanted the North Tower to fall into the South Tower, destroying both of them. His plan did not work, and there was only damage to the North Tower that cost 250 million dollars to repair over a few months.

After the bombing, the FBI gathered evidence to find the terrorists responsible for the attack. Items or facts that prove who is responsible for a crime are called evidence. They found pieces of the van and realized it was rented from DIB Leasing in Jersey City, New Jersey. DIB Leasing told

▸ Ramzi Yousef

the FBI that Mohammed Salameh rented the van. A few days after renting the van, Salameh called the police and told them that someone stole the van. Salameh didn’t know that the FBI had evidence connecting him to the bombing. He asked DIB Leasing to return the money for the van he had rented. When Salameh went to DIB Leasing to collect the money, the FBI arrested him. Salameh confessed to the crime. When a criminal tells the police that he did something against the law, he confesses. Salameh’s arrest led the FBI to other terrorists who helped build the bomb.

In 1995, Pakistani secret police arrested Ramzi Yousef in Islamabad, Pakistan. They sent him to the United States, where he went on trial. In 1997, he was sentenced to life in prison. When a court decides to punish someone, they sentence the person to the punishment. He was also found guilty of many other terror attacks. Salameh and other terrorists who helped Yousef were sentenced to 240 years in prison.

The 1993 bombing was the first attack terrorists carried out in America. It was a warning that terrorists would try to attack America again. On September 11, 2001, terrorists attacked the Twin Towers and completely destroyed them.

causing flooding

Ceiling collapses onto path train concourse

Office wall blown down, killing four port authority personnel

Smoke travels up damaged elevators Tower 1 Tower 2 B-1 Level B-2 Level B-3 Level B-4 Level B-5 Level B-6 Level

garage entrance Path Trains

FD

Command Post

Firefighters break windows to relieve lobby smoke condition

Vista Hotel 22 Floors

Two stairways terminate at plaza/mezzanine level, many occupants can’t find exits in smoke, firefighters have to force doors and remove occupants Blast Epicenter

Parking garage ramp to West Street

business evidence - items or facts that

Refrigerator piping ruptures who is responsible for a crime confessed - told the police that he did something against the law sentencedeciding to punish someone

Blast Damage

▸ Terrorists destroyed the Twin Towers in 2001, eight years after the first bombing.

102 | BOOK 2 CHAPTER 6 LESSON 4

Question REVIEW

1.

What was Ramzi Yousef’s goal when he bombed the Twin Towers?

a. To cause only the North Tower to collapse

b. To destroy the parking garages

c. To cause both towers to fall into each other

d. To cause panic

2. How did the FBI find Mohammed Salameh?

a. He turned himself in to the FBI.

b. They found his fingerprints on the van he rented.

c. Airport security found him trying to leave the U.S.

d. They found pieces of the van he rented.

3. What happened to Ramzi Yousef after he was arrested in Islamabad, Pakistan?

a. He was released.

b. He was sentenced to death.

c. He was sent to the United States for trial.

d. He was placed under house arrest.

4. Why do you think Yousef chose to bomb the World Trade Center at 12:17 pm?

5. How might the FBI have known that the van was from DIB Leasing in New Jersey?

6. On what date did terrorists bomb the Twin Towers?

FOCUS ON FIRST RESPONDERS

When there is an emergency, it is important to get help as fast as possible. The people we call for help are called first responders. Police officers, firefighters, and paramedics are the most common first responders. Fill in the chart with the missing information and answer the questions below.

Which first responder should you call in the following emergencies?

Police officer guns, handcuffs, patrol car stopping crimes and arresting criminals

Firefighter

fire extinguishers, axes, hoses, fighting fires, rescuing people from fires and other emergencies, and treating injuries

1. A person is having a serious allergic reaction.

2. Smoke is pouring out of a building.

3. A person is breaking into a house.

Paramedic

oxygen tanks, stretchers, treating injuries and bringing people to the hospital

4. A person is injured in a car crash.

AM A… I USE… I DRIVE IN A… I HELP YOU BY…

HOOVER DAM

Water is super important for us to live. Without water, there would be no food to eat, water to drink, or wood to build houses. But too much water can be dangerous. Floods can hurt people and ruin homes. Many floods start from rivers that overflow. To prevent this, people started building dams.

▸ The Hoover Dam

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The Colorado River is a powerful river that is 1,450 miles long and flows through seven states. The river is very strong and would often flood cities and farms in Arizona, Nevada, and other states. In 1928, Congress approved the construction of the Hoover Dam. A dam is a wall built across a river or other body of water to stop the water and control its flow. The Hoover Dam was built between Arizona and Nevada.

Construction of the Hoover Dam began on March 4, 1931, and took five years. Building the dam was very difficult. The workers could not work in the river, so they dug huge tunnels. The river flowed through the tunnels, allowing the workers to build the dam on the dry riverbed. The floor of a river is its riverbed. The workers made more than 200 concrete blocks and

Did you know?

• At 770 feet, the Oroville Dam in California is the only dam taller than the Hoover Dam.

• Lake Mead provides water to over 20 million people.

▸ The Hoover Dam under construction

▸ Building a tunnel for the Colorado River

dam - a wall across a body of water to stop the water and control its flows

riverbed - the floor of a river reservoir - where water is stored before it goes to people’s houses and farms

turbine - a machine that creates electricity from water

then stacked them to build a large, round wall. The blocks were huge! They were each about the size of a garage that fits one car.

The bad weather made the work especially dangerous. The summers were very hot, and the winters were very cold. More than 100 people died while working on the dam. About 21,000 people worked on the dam, which cost 165 million dollars.

The Hoover Dam is 726 feet tall. Its base is 660 feet thick, which is more than the length of two city streets. At the top, it is 45 feet thick, nearly as wide as a four-lane highway. The dam holds back the river’s water and creates a reservoir called Lake Mead. A reservoir is where water is stored before it goes to people’s houses and farms. Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the United States.

The dam also has machines called turbines that create electricity from water. The electricity that is made from water is called hydroelectricity. The dam provides electricity to Arizona, Nevada, and other states. When the dam was built, it made the most hydroelectricity in the U.S.

On September 30, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt (19331945) opened the Hoover Dam. It was named to honor President Herbert Hoover, who was president most of the time it was being built. Each year, millions of people visit the dam and see how it protects the cities near the great Colorado River.

▸ Turbines producing hydroelectricity

Question REVIEW

1. How long is the Colorado River?

a. 1,450 miles b. 1,650 miles

c. 1,850 miles d. 2,000 miles

2. How many states does the Colorado River flow through?

a. 4 states b. 5 states

c. 6 states d. 7 states

3. Which of the following is NOT true about the Hoover Dam?

a. It is located on the Mississippi River.

b. The construction took five years.

c. It creates electricity.

d. It is named after President Herbert Hoover.

4. Why was the Hoover Dam built?

5. Why was building the Hoover Dam difficult?

6. How did the Hoover Dam get its name?

DAMS IN DETAIL

There are more than 90,000 dams in the United States. This chart shows just a few of them. Look at the chart and answer the questions below.

Fill in the blanks based on the chart above.

Hoover Dam 1935 726 ft

Grand Coulee Dam 1942 550 ft

Glen Canyon Dam 1963 710 ft

Colorado River, Nevada/ Arizona

Columbia River, Washington State

Colorado River, Arizona

One of the largest concrete structures in the world

Provides water for 670,000 acres of farms

Called a “bridge between two worlds” for connecting deserts to farmland

1. The tallest dam in the U.S. is the , and it is feet taller than the Glen Canyon Dam.

2. The was built seven years after the .

3. At 726 feet, the Hoover Dam is just 16 feet taller than the .

4. The protects cities downstream from floods.

Oroville Dam 1968 770 ft

Feather River California

Tallest dam in the United States, stops heavy rains from flooding downstream cities

5. The is one of the largest concrete structures in the world. It is on the border of and .

Did you know?

• Winston Churchill worked very hard to overcome a stutter.

▸ Winston Churchill

▸ Speaking in Fulton, Missouri

WIKIPEDIA

WIKIPEDIA

WIKIPEDIA

WIKIPEDIA

Winston Churchill was born in England in 1874. Churchill was a powerful speaker and was elected to the English government in 1900. In 1940, Churchill became the prime minister , or leader, of England. He led England during World War II (1939-1945) and helped the Allies win the war.

Churchill’s term as prime minister ended in 1945, but he continued to participate in the government. Churchill was very nervous about how strong the USSR became after World War II. The USSR was a communist country ruled by Joseph Stalin. The USSR won 15 countries during World War II and ruled almost eight million miles. Churchill believed that the USSR wanted to spread communism worldwide and end democracy. In a democracy, the people of the country vote for their government leaders. The United States and England are both democracies.

WINSTON CHURCHILL’S IRON CURTAIN SPEECH

Winston Churchill was one of the great world leaders in the 1900s. He served in England’s government for 55 years and is considered to be one of the best speakers in history! He gave speeches that are still read by many people years later.

Because he was nervous about the USSR, Churchill gave a lot of speeches talking about the importance of the friendship between the U.S. and England. He said that the two countries must stop the spread of communism. In 1946, Churchill visited the U.S. for three months. One of Churchill’s most famous speeches was given on March 5, 1946, in Fulton, Missouri.

▸ Joseph Stalin

WIKIPEDIA

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Churchill spoke about the Iron Curtain dividing Europe. The Iron Curtain was an imaginary wall dividing Europe after World War II. On one side were countries that were friends with the United States, and on the other side were countries that were friends with the USSR. Churchill said that the USSR wanted other countries to join it and separate themselves from the free world. He also called on the United States and its allies to make sure the USSR did not become even stronger. This speech is considered the beginning of the Cold War.

The Cold War was a war between the U.S. and the USSR. It was called cold because the two sides never fought each other directly. Instead, they helped with wars in other countries, such as Korea and Vietnam. The U.S. helped the democratic people of these countries, and the USSR helped the communist people. When the democratic side won, the U.S. gained an ally, but when the communists won, the USSR did. The Cold War lasted until 1989.

Churchill’s warnings about the USSR became true in the years that followed. The USSR helped rebels fight wars and set up communist governments in Vietnam, Korea, and other countries. Rebels are people who fight against their government. Joseph Stalin also passed laws that made people in the USSR feel like they were living behind an actual iron curtain. USSR citizens were not allowed to read any books written by American writers. They were also not allowed to leave the country, even for a small trip.

In 1951, Churchill became Prime Minister of England again. He served until 1955, when he retired because of his poor health. He died in 1965 at the age of 90.

prime ministerleader of a country democracygovernment created by the people’s vote iron curtain - an imaginary wall dividing Europe after World War II rebels - people who fight against their government

WIKIPEDIA

Question REVIEW

1. Who was the ruler of the USSR in 1945?

a. Franklin Roosevelt

b. Winston Churchill

c. Joseph Stalin

d. Abraham Lincoln

2. How did the USSR help create communist governments in other countries?

a. They paid citizens to vote for communist leaders.

b. Countries followed their example when they saw how rich the USSR was.

c. They helped rebels fight to create communist governments in their countries.

d. They invaded countries that were not communist.

3. What did the USSR want to do according to Churchill?

a. Spread communism

b. Help businesses in the U.S.

c. Join the UN

d. Take over England

4. Why do you think Stalin didn’t allow people in the USSR to read any books written by American writers?

Answer:

5. How many years did Churchill serve as prime minister of England altogether?

SORT THE WORDS ON THE IRON CURTAIN MAP

Answer:

The red line in the map shows the Iron Curtain separating the two sides of Europe. The blue countries in the above map were democracies, and most were also friends of the United States. The orange countries were all ruled by the USSR.

Look at the words in the word box and write them on the side where they belong.

Word box: Communism, Democracy, Joseph Stalin, Winston Churchill, Allies of the USA

SCOTT KELLY

Imagine your mother asking you to carry a bag of groceries inside. You try to pick it up, but it feels like it weighs a ton! You have a hard time carrying it just a few steps. This is similar to what Scott Kelly felt after living in space for almost a year. When he returned to Earth, even the lightest objects felt heavy to him.

Scott Kelly was born on February 21, 1964, in Orange, New Jersey. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1982 and became a test pilot. Kelly tested inventions for U.S. Navy airplanes before other pilots began using them.

In 1995, Kelly applied to NASA to become an astronaut. A person trying to get a job is an applicant. All NASA applicants go through many tests to see if they will work well in the tough conditions of outer space. Astronauts need to be able to live and work without gravity. When you throw a ball in the air, it comes back down because of gravity. In space, instead of falling, things float in the air because there is no gravity bringing them down. Of the thousands of people who applied in 1995, NASA accepted only 44 applicants. Scott and his twin brother Mark were both accepted.

▸ Scott Kelly in his spacesuit

Did you know?

• NASA says its research is helping it prepare to send humans to Mars.

• Scott Kelly was an inch-and-a-half taller when he returned to Earth. He lost the extra height in two days.

Kelly made his first trip to space in 1999 on Space Shuttle Discovery. Kelly was also part of missions to the International Space Station (ISS). These missions gave him experience and prepared him to live on the ISS for almost a year.

On March 27, 2015, Kelly launched into space with Russian astronaut Mikhail Kornienko on a 340-day mission. They were going to do experiments to help us better understand how being in space for a long time affects a person. Kelly had to take many eye, memory, and blood tests in space. He had to do each test many times to see if the results changed based on how long he was in space. He also performed spacewalks to add new equipment to the ISS.

WIKIPEDIA

▸ Kelly floating in space

▸ Sott Kelly and Mikhail Kornienko

WIKIPEDIA NASA.GOV

▸ Mark and Scott Kelly joined NASA together in 1996

test pilot - a pilot who tests inventions before other pilots begin using them applicant - a person trying to get a job success - doing every part of a plan capsulesspaceships that return to Earth by parachute

When astronauts return to Earth, a pencil can be very heavy for them. After spending so much time in space, it takes a few days for astronauts to get used to gravity again. In space, everything floats, and their bodies are not used to carrying any weight. Astronauts also often have headaches and muscle pain on their first days back on Earth.

On March 1, 2016, Kelly and Kornienko returned to Earth. They were helped out of the small capsule and greeted by their families. Spaceships that return to Earth by a parachute are called capsules. The two astronauts had done all the experiments that were planned, making the mission a success. They became the only astronauts to have been in space for so long before returning to Earth.

▸ Kelly and Kornienko returning to Earth in a small capsule attached to a huge parachute

1. What was Kelly’s job in the U.S. Navy?

a. Astronaut

b. Test pilot

c. Engineer

d. Teacher

2. What happened when Kelly returned to Earth?

a. He was able to carry heavy objects easily.

b. He was used to carrying weight.

c. He had headaches and muscle pain.

d. He was able to float in the air.

3. What kind of tests did Kelly NOT take while he was in space?

a. Math tests

b. Blood tests

c. Memory tests

d. Eye tests

4. Why do you think NASA is very careful about who it accepts to be an astronaut?

5. Why do you think NASA chose Scott Kelly for this mission to the ISS?

6. Why is it hard for astronauts to lift some objects after returning to Earth?

SPACE SOLUTIONS

It is very hard to do most activities without gravity. Drinks don’t stay in regular cups, and sleeping while floating is not very comfortable. It’s also very hard to keep your belongings organized and work without gravity. Match the following activities with an item that can make it easier to do in space.

THINGS THAT ARE DIFFICULT IN SPACE

Drinking

ANSWER ITEMS THAT CAN HELP ASTRONAUTS IN SPACE

A. Squeeze tubes and Ziploc bags

Sleeping B. Wipes and dry shampoo

Showering

Eating

Staying organized

C. Sleeping bags that are strapped to the wall or floor

D. Velcro, magnets, and rope

E. Cups with straws

▸ FDR delivering a fireside chat

▸ People waiting for free coffee and doughnuts during the Great Depression

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FDR’S FIRESIDE CHATS

Did you know that presidents have different ways of speaking to the American people? Some like to stay in their office and don’t talk to the public very much, while others prefer to talk directly to the people. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was one of the presidents who loved to talk to the people, and he was the first to do so on a regular basis.

Did you know?

• Gerald Ford was the first president to deliver a weekly radio address, known as The President’s Radio Address.

Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) became the 32nd president of the United States on March 4, 1933. Eight days later, he gave his first fireside chat as president. Fireside chats were speeches that Roosevelt gave to the public on the radio. His fireside chats did not sound like speeches. He used very simple words that every American could understand. He called them fireside chats to show that he wanted them to be like enjoyable conversations between friends sitting beside a cozy fireplace.

Roosevelt became president during the Great Depression. A depression is when a country is poor for a long time. The Great

• William Henry Harrison was the ninth president of the United States. He gave the longest speech of any president but served the shortest amount of time.

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Depression lasted from 1929 to 1939. During this time, many people lost their jobs, and most people were very poor. Roosevelt gave his first fireside chat on March 12, 1933, to say that he would help the country through trying, or hard, times. He started a program called the New Deal to help poor people who needed jobs. Under the New Deal, many people were hired for large building projects, such as the Hoover Dam. FDR used government money to repair much of the country’s infrastructure. Trains, roads, and other things the country needs to run are called its infrastructure.

During World War II (1939-1945), FDR used the chats to tell the country how the fight against Nazi Germany was going. He also told Americans about laws he was passing to make sure the army had everything it needed to win the war. These laws limited the amount of food and other products each person was allowed to buy to make sure the army had food and equipment.

address - talk to depression - when a country is poor for a long time trying - hard infrastructurethings the country needs to run

The American people loved the fireside chats, and Roosevelt became a very popular president. People felt that the president understood and really wanted to help them. Roosevelt gave 31 fireside chats during his 12 years as president. Millions of people mailed letters to him at the White House. He was the only president to win four elections and was president for 12 years. He died in 1945, at the beginning of his fourth term as president.

▸ LaGuardia airport in New York was also built as part of the New Deal.

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Question REVIEW

1. What were the fireside chats?

a. Speeches given by Roosevelt in person

b. Speeches given by Roosevelt on the radio

c. Written speeches by Roosevelt

d. Speeches given by Roosevelt’s vice president

2. What was happening in the country when Roosevelt became president?

a. The country was very rich.

b. The country was experiencing the Great Depression.

c. The country was at peace.

d. The country was experiencing earthquakes.

3. What did FDR’s New Deal programs do?

a. Helped poor people until they found a job

b. Gave money to wealthy people for big projects

c. Broke down the country’s roads and buildings

d. Stopped the government from fixing things

4. Why do you think Roosevelt started giving fireside chats?

5. When did Roosevelt give his first fireside chat as president?

6. How many times was Roosevelt elected as president?

SPOTLIGHT ON SPEECHES

This chart shows different types of presidential addresses or speeches. Look at the chart and answer the questions below.

Are the following statements true or false?

State of the Union address House of Representatives

Inaugural address U.S. Capitol

Executive address

White House Briefing Room, East Room, or other location

Press conference White House Briefing Room

The president talks about the country’s situation and his plans for the coming year.

This is the first speech given by a new president. He talks about his plans for the country.

The president talks about important topics and makes announcements.

The president answers questions and talks about important topics with reporters.

January or February each year

January 20th, every 4 years

Any time during the president’s term

Any time during the president’s term

1. The press conference takes place in the White House East Room.

2. The president gives the State of the Union address in the White House.

3. The purpose of the press conference is for the president to answer questions from reporters.

4. The president gives an inaugural address when he becomes president.

5. The president answers questions from journalists during an executive address.

NATIONAL PARKS

The first time people saw the new parts of the United States, they were amazed at its beauty. But when more people moved in and began cutting forests for wood and room to live, much of the country’s beauty was ruined. Let’s find out how the National Park Service (NPS) solved this problem.

During the 1800s, many people in the United States began moving to new states that had just become part of the country. As people moved, they built new cities wherever they liked. Conservationists realized that people were ruining the natural beauty of many areas of the country. They also noticed that animals were losing their natural habitats to the new cities. The place an animal is supposed to live to stay healthy is its natural habitat. A conservationist is someone who works to protect land and animals.

In 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant created the first national park in the U.S., Yellowstone National Park. National parks are areas of land that are protected. That means that people are not

▸ President Ulysses S. Grant

Did you know?

allowed to live there. They are for animals and plants to live without being ruined. Conservationists wanted to protect these areas so people would be able to enjoy them. People can visit the parks and must follow the rules that protect the park and keep the animals safe.

After Yellowstone, more national parks were created, including Yosemite in 1890 and Mount Rainier in 1899. By 1916, there were many parks but not enough money to actually protect them. Without money, the parks could not repair trails or hire rangers to keep people safe from animals. People also began ruining the parks by hunting and chopping down trees.

On April 5, 1916, conservationists asked Congress to establish the National Park Service (NPS). They wanted the NPS to be in charge of protecting and running the parks. They said it was not enough to create parks that were then left unprotected. The NPS would have two jobs. It would protect the park and keep animals safe from people. The NPS would also create ways for people to enjoy the beautiful parks.

In August 1916, President Woodrow Wilson created the NPS and put it in charge of national parks. The NPS began charging people a small fee to use

• The NPS protects more than 400 parks.

• President Theodore Roosevelt added 100 million acres of national forest to the list of places protected by the federal government.

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▸ Joshua Tree

▸ Dry Tortugas

▸ Petrified Forest

▸ Hawai’i Volcanoes

▸ President Ulysses S. Grant opened Yellowstone National Park in 1872.

▸ Park rangers keep people and animals safe in national parks.

A map of major national parks in the USA

23. Canyonlands

24. Arches

25. Grand Teton

26. Yellowstone

27. Theodore Roosevelt

28. Badlands

29. Wind Cave

30. Rocky Mountains

31. Black Canyon of the Gunnison

32. Great Sand Dunnes

33. White Sands

34. Carlsbad Caverns

35. Guadalupe Mountains

36. Big Bend

37. Voyageurs

38. Isle Royale

39. Indiana Dunes

40. Cuyahoga Valley

Verde

20. Grand Canyon

21. Zion

22. Bryce Canyon

41. Acadia

42. Shenandoah

43. Mammoth Cave

44. Great Smokey Mountains

45. Congaree

46. Hot Springs

47. Biscayne

48. Everglades

49. Dry Tortugas

50. American Samoa

51. Virgin Islands

52. Haleakala

53. Hawai’i Volcanoes

54. Glacier Bay

55. Wrangler - St. Elias

56. Gates of the Arctic

57. Kobuk Valley

58. Denalli

59. Lake Clark

60. Katmai

61. Kenai Fjords

the parks. Congress also gives the NPS money, allowing it to pay people to keep the parks running.

In 1935, Congress gave the NPS the job of taking care of historical sites and buildings. Anything that is important in history is historical. A historical site can be a famous place, such as a battlefield or fort that was used by the American army. A historical building is also called a landmark . The White House is an example of a landmark that is protected by the NPS. Historical sites and buildings may not be changed without special permission from the NPS.

As of 2023, the National Park System protects over 84 million acres of land. That’s almost three times the size of Pennsylvania. More than 20,000 people work in the parks, and over 300 million enjoy their beauty each year.

conservationist - someone who works to protect land and animals natural habitat - the place an animal is supposed to live to stay healthy historicalsomething that is important in history landmarkhistorical building

▸ Gates of the Arctic

▸ Death Valley

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▸ Biscayne

▸ Crater Lake

▸ Yosemite

Question REVIEW

1. Who created the National Park Service?

a. President Ulysses S. Grant

b. President Woodrow Wilson

c. Congress

d. The National Park Agency

2. What did Congress give the National Park Service the job of preserving in 1935?

a. The White House

b. National parks

c. Historical sites and buildings

d. Animals and plants

3. Why was the NPS started?

a. To take care of nature in the U.S.

b. To build parks for people to have fun and learn about nature

c. To protect important historical buildings in the U.S.

d. To help people visit and spend money in places with interesting things to see and do

4. What are the two jobs of the National Park Service?

5. How do you think building cities can ruin the natural beauty of the United States?

JOB TITLE

Park rangers

6. What rules would you make to protect a lake?

NATIONAL PARK JOBS

This chart shows some of the jobs that people do in national parks.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Make sure visitors are safe and following the rules, take care of trails and animals

Park historians Keep buildings and sites safe, teach people about their history

Park managers Make sure the park land is well taken care of and hire park workers

Park guides Give tours, talk to groups

Park workers

Fix broken things, keep the park clean

Fix broken things, keep the park clean.

JOBS

Stop a wild animal from hurting a visitor

Protect the park’s 200-year-old building

Give you a job in the park

Tell visitors stories about the park

Collect garbage left on a trail

ANSWER PEOPLE WHO DO THEM

A. Park historians

B. Park rangers

C. Park guides

D. Park workers

E. Park managers

Did you know?

• The 1906 earthquake was the first time pictures were taken of a natural disaster.

• Although most of the damage was in San Francisco, the quake was felt as far away as Oregon and Los Angeles.

SAN FRANCISCO EARTHQUAKE

Have you ever heard of natural disasters? Natural disasters are events in nature that can be dangerous and cause a lot of damage, like earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes. We can’t stop them, but we can follow special rules called building codes to build safe buildings and lessen the damage they cause.

▸ Full city blocks were completely destroyed by the earthquake and fires

On April 18, 1906, at 5:12 a.m., an earthquake hit the city of San Francisco, California. The ground shook for 42 seconds and broke many gas and water lines throughout the city. Lines are pipes that bring water and gas to all the buildings in the city. Many buildings collapsed, and a lot of people were killed before having a chance to get out of bed. This was the deadliest earthquake in the United States, killing at least 700 people.

When the ground stopped trembling, everyone panicked. The streets were covered in rock and dust from fallen buildings. Many people were injured and needed help. Fires broke out from the damaged gas lines, but there was no water to put them out. There were too many fires for the fire department to handle, so the fires spread throughout the city. Every half hour another full square

▸ People leaving San Francisco WIKIPEDIA

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natural disasters

- natural events that can be dangerous and cause a lot of damage building codes - special rules for how to build buildings in ways that are safe in case of natural disasters lines - pipes earthquake drilla practice of what to do in case there is an earthquake

block was destroyed. It took 72 hours to put the flames out. By that time, 28,000 buildings fell or burned, and 225,000 people lost their homes. That was more than half the city’s residents.

The governor of California ordered that the city be rebuilt right away. He did not want to pass a building code for earthquakes. He thought it would make people afraid to live in San Francisco. By 1915, the entire city was rebuilt. In 1933, another large earthquake hit California, and the government finally passed building codes.

Since earthquakes can sometimes be dangerous, schools in California have earthquake drills. That’s when they practice what to do in case an earthquake hits. Even though it is important to be ready, most earthquakes are not dangerous. There are more than 500,000 earthquakes each year in the world, and most cannot be felt by people.

▸ Map of fire after earthquake

Question REVIEW

1. Why are building codes important in areas that are often hit by earthquakes?

a. To make people afraid to live in the area

b. To help builders save money

c. To make sure that buildings are safe during an earthquake

d. To make the buildings look nicer

2. How many years did it take to rebuild the city of San Francisco?

a. 7 b. 5

c. 9 d. 11

3. On which date did the San Francisco earthquake occur?

a. April 18, 1906 b. April 13, 1905

c. April 17, 1906 d. May 27, 1904

4. Name two types of natural disasters.

5. Why didn’t the California governor pass a building code?

6. Why do you think some schools have earthquake drills and others do not?

A LOOK AT THE LAYERS

Earth has four layers: the inner core, outer core, mantle, and crust. We live on the crust, which is made up of a few different pieces called plates. Earthquakes happen when the Earth’s plates move. Earthquakes can start 500 miles deep in the earth, travel up to the plates, and move them. The more the plates move, the bigger the earthquake

Look at the chart and fill in the blanks below.

LAYER THICKNESS IN MILES TEMPERATURE (°F) CHARACTERISTICS

Crust varies 32 - 2190

Mantle 1,770 1,832 - 6,692

Outer Core 1,410 6,692 - 9,932

Inner Core 760 9,932 - 10,832

This is where we live. It’s a thin layer made up of rocks and minerals. The crust is made up of many plates that can move.

This layer is made up of hot, flowy rock that can move the plates in Earth’s crust.

This layer is made up of liquid metal. It acts like a magnet and keeps harmful materials from the sun away from people.

This is the hottest and heaviest layer of Earth.

1. The hottest layer of Earth is its . It is also the layer.

2. Earth’s crust is made up of pieces called .

3. The acts like a magnet and keeps harmful materials from the away from Earth.

4. The thickest layer of the earth is the .

5. The is the coolest of all Earth’s layers.

Crust

Mantle

Outer core

Inner core

Did you know?

• 350 babies were born on Ellis Island.

• Mayor Fiorello

LaGuardia worked at Ellis Island before he became the mayor of NY.

• Before Ellis Island got its name, it was called Gull Island, Oyster Island, or Gibbet Island at different times in history.

• The first three immigrants who came to Ellis Island were Annie Moore, a teenager from Ireland, with her two younger brothers

▸ Immigrants waiting to be seen by a doctor

▸ Ellis Island’s nickname was “The Island of Tears.” People would cry if they failed any examinations while on Ellis Island and couldn’t enter the United States.

▸ Ship coming to harbor on Ellis Island

Ellis Island

Do you know someone who moved to the United States a very long time ago? How did they get there? What was it like when they first arrived?

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, millions of people left Europe and immigrated to the United States. Immigrated is another way of saying moved to a new country. They hoped for a better life in the United States, a life with more safety, freedom, and better jobs.

At that time, people traveled by ship. Planes did not exist yet. It took many weeks to get from Europe to America. The ships were often crowded and unclean, and many passengers became seasick.

Ellis Island is located in the New York Harbor . A harbor is where ships can safely dock when they reach land. Ellis Island opened in 1892 and closed in 1954. This was the place where many immigrants had to go before they were allowed to enter the United States. Immigrants are people who come to live in a new country. April 17, 1907, was the busiest day ever at Ellis Island. On that day, 11,747 people came to Ellis Island so they could enter the United States and start a new life.

▸ List of some of the immigrants that passed through Ellis Island

▸ Health inspection card from Ellis Island

▸ Waiting in line at Ellis Island

immigratedmoved into a new country harbor - a place where ships can safely dock when they reach land immigrantspeople who move into a new country required - need to do

Ellis Island inspectors checked to see if the immigrants had all the right paperwork to enter the U.S. They asked many questions to be sure the information on the papers was accurate, or true. Doctors checked to see if the immigrants were in good health. This process usually took between three to five hours.

Some immigrants were not required, or did not need, to go through Ellis Island. These were people who paid for expensive ship tickets. Their paperwork was checked while they were still on the ship, and they entered the United States through a different harbor.

Believe it or not, 12 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island while immigrating to the United States!

Ellis Island closed in 1954 because immigration slowed down. Today, there is a museum on Ellis Island called the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration. Visitors can learn about immigrants who came to the United States and passed through Ellis Island.

▸ Ellis Island closed in 1954 because immigration slowed down. Today, there is a museum on Ellis Island called the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration

Question REVIEW

1. Who had to go to Ellis Island?

a. All immigrants coming to the United States

b. Immigrants traveling on the cheaper tickets

c. Immigrants traveling with expensive tickets

d. Half of the immigrants coming to the United States

2. How many people passed through Ellis Island when immigrating to the United States?

a. 2,000,000

b. 12,000

c. 12,000,000

d. 20,000

3. How did immigrants travel to their new country in the late 1800s?

a. By ship

b. By car

c. By airplane

d. By train

4. How do you think immigrants felt when they arrived at Ellis Island?

5. Why do you think it was important to check if the immigrants were healthy when they came to the United States?

HOW MANY IMMIGRANTS ARRIVED IN THE

USA?

Here is a special kind of chart, called a bar graph. This bar graph shows the number of immigrants who arrived in the USA during certain years. Look at the graph and circle the correct answer to each question.

1. In 1900, there were (more/less) immigrants than in 1980.

2. In 1920, there were (more / less) immigrants than in 1940.

3. In 2000, there were (more / less) immigrants than in 1980.

4. In which year were there more immigrants than in 2016?

5. Which year had the least immigrants coming to the United States? How many immigrants were there?

PONY EXPRESS

Once upon a time, a rider on a horse set out from the state of Missouri with a bag of mail. He rode for miles and then passed the bag to another rider. This rider rode more and then passed the bag to another rider. This happened over and over again until the mail finally reached the state of California in just nine days and 23 hours. The mail had traveled 2,000 miles!

▸ Pony express rider

▸ A sign offering jobs riding for the Pony Express

Did you know?

The Pony Express was a special mail delivery service that began on April 3, 1860. It was mainly used to deliver newspapers and mail between Missouri and California.

At the time, California, on the west coast of the U.S., was cut off from the rest of the United States. The only way to send mail or news from one coast to another was by ship, which would take at least a month, or by stagecoach, which could take from three weeks to many months.

A stagecoach is a type of vehicle pulled by a team of horses. It was often used to carry passengers and mail over long distances.

The Pony Express was much faster, with an average delivery time of ten days, making it a valuable service for the people in the western part of the country. Something that is very useful and important is valuable.

• Many pony riders were teenagers willing to face the dangers of the ride for the excitement and the money they could earn.

▸ Stagecoaches like these also brought mail to California, but it could take a month to get there.

▸ Pony express riders WIKIPEDIA

The service had 184 stations along the 1,900 mile route between Missouri and California. The stations along the Pony Express’s route were used as rest stops for the riders and horses and as places to change the horse and rider team. The rider would carry the mail from one station to the next, passing it on to a new rider who would continue the journey. The stations were usually located around 75-100 miles apart. At the stations, riders were able to restock with food, water and other supplies. In case of bad weather, the riders and horses would wait at the station.

Riders earned $100 a month, which was a lot of money at the time. They worked hard and risked their lives, riding through inclement, or bad weather and dangerous situations.

Initially, meaning at the beginning, the delivery price was $5 for every half ounce of mail. Later, prices were lowered to $1, but it was still too high for everyday mail. Instead, the service was mainly used to deliver newspaper reports, most of which were printed on tissue-thin paper to keep costs and weight down.

The Pony Express was forced to close on October 24,1861, after the opening of the telegraph, which could send messages much faster and at a lower price.

Pony Express stations

▸ Some Pony Express stations were preserved and can be visited, like this one in Nevada

1. What was the main purpose of the Pony Express?

a. To deliver newspapers

b. To deliver mail

c. To transport passengers

d. Both a and b

2. How long did it take for mail to be delivered from one coast to another before the Pony Express?

a. Ten days

b. A month

c. Three weeks to many months

d. 24 hours

3. How much did riders earn for working for the Pony Express?

a. $10 a month

c. $100 a month

b. $50 a month

d. $200 a month

4. How was the Pony Express different from other mail delivery methods?

5. What kind of dangerous situations do you think Pony Express riders encountered along the way?

THE

This graph shows the amount of mail sent through the United States Postal Service during various years after the Pony Express was no longer in service. The numbers on the left refer to millions of pieces of mail.

1. How much mail was sent in 1980?

a. 20 million pieces

b. 40 million pieces

c. 60 million pieces

d. 100 million pieces

2. How much did a first-class letter stamp cost in 1940?

a. 1 cent b. 2 cents

c. 3 cents d. 4 cents

3. How does the price of a stamp in 2019 compare to its price in 1930?

a. It is 25 cents more

b. It is 53 cents more

c. It is 25 cents less

d. It is 53 cents less

4. In what year were approximately 100 million pieces of mail sent?

a. 1980 b. 1990

c. 2000 d. 2010

BRITANNICA.COM

Did you know?

• The Lewis and Clark expedition traveled through what is now Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.

• The expedition met more than 50 Native American tribes during their journey.

▸ William Clark

▸ Meriwether Lewis

▸ Painting of the expedition leaving in three small boats

In 1803, the United States bought land from France, which doubled its size. No one from the U.S. had ever traveled farther west than St. Louis, Missouri, so no one knew anything about the land. President Thomas Jefferson decided to send people to explore the new land, its people, and its natural resources. Natural resources are materials in nature that people use, such as wood and stone. He also told them to find the quickest way to the Pacific Ocean.

Jefferson chose two people from the army who also had experience with navigation. Someone with experience in navigation knows how to figure out directions without a map. He knew they would meet natives who had lived on the land for thousands of years and did not want new people on their land. He put Captain Meriwether Lewis and

LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION

Exploring a new land is exciting and scary at the same time. The land might be beautiful and good for growing food, or it might have dangerous animals and bad soil. Lewis and Clark went on a trip to see what the new western part of the United States was like.

▸ Map of the Lewis and Clark expedition. The red line shows the trip to the West. The purple line shows the return trip. Notice that the two split up for part of the return journey. They did this to explore more land.

▸ President Thomas Jefferson

▸ Travel journal of a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition

Second Lieutenant William Clark in charge of the trip. They chose a team of 40 men to help them with traveling and fighting the natives. They spent six months preparing for the difficult journey across unknown lands. During those six months, they bought supplies and learned about the area. Lewis and Clark had no idea what they would find or how long they would be gone.

On May 14, 1804, the expedition set off from St. Louis, Missouri, in three small boats. A trip to explore is called an expedition. The journey was very difficult, and they met many unfriendly natives. They also met many helpful natives who taught them how to hunt and use the land’s resources. The expedition would have failed without the natives’ help.

Lewis and Clark drew maps of the land they traveled and showed the quickest way to the Pacific Ocean. They also documented, or wrote down, the plants and animals which they had never seen before, such as grizzly bears and mountain goats. The trip was 8,000 miles and was the first step in the country’s expansion west.

resources - materials in nature that humans use navigationfiguring out directions without a map expedition - a mission to explore documentedwrote down

The expedition reached the Pacific Ocean on November 21, 1805. They stayed there for the winter and began the return trip on March 23, 1806. On September 23, 1806, the expedition returned to St. Louis.

Meriwether Lewis died in 1809 at the age of 35, and William Clark died in 1838 at the age of 68. Several U.S. coins were designed with the picture of Lewis and Clark on them to honor their work for the United States.

▸ A detail of a page from William Clark's expedition diary, including a sketch of evergreen shrub leaves.

▸ Bronze sculpture of Lewis and Clark

1. Who sent Lewis and Clark on their expedition?

a. President Abraham Lincoln

b. The U.S. Army

c. President Thomas Jefferson

d. President George Washington

2. When did the expedition set off from St. Louis, Missouri?

a. May 14, 1804

b. May 4, 1804

c. April 4, 1803

d. May 14, 1805

3. How did the United States double in size?

a. They bought land from India.

b. They won a war with Spain.

c. They won a war with France.

d. They bought land from France.

4. Why did President Jefferson send an expedition to the new part of the United States?

5. Why do you think Jefferson appointed people from the army for the expedition?

6. How long did the entire expedition take?

MASTER THE MAP

One of the most important tools Lewis and Clark had was their compass. A compass is a tool that shows which way you are going. A compass’s needle always points toward the North Pole. Once you know which way is north, you can figure out the other directions to find the way you need to travel.

When explorers draw maps of new areas, they also draw a compass rose to show which direction on the map is north. A compass rose is a drawing on a map that shows the four main directions (north, south, east, and west). On some maps, the compass rose also shows four in-between directions (northeast (NE), northwest (NW), southeast (SE), and southwest (SW). Without a compass rose, no one would know which way on the map to travel to reach their destination.

Write the missing directions from the map’s compass rose and answer the questions to navigate the world map.

1. In which direction would you travel to get from Africa to North America?

2. Which ocean is east of South America?

3. In which direction would you travel to get from Asia to Australia?

4. Which continent is north of Africa?

IRONING BOARDS

Did you know that even small ideas can be very valuable? Some inventions are huge machines, like engines, and some are as simple as a folding ironing board. But when all these ideas come together, we get our amazing world with all its technology.

His parents had escaped from slavery in Kentucky to Canada. They eventually moved back to the USA, and McCoy grew up in the state of Michigan. In the 1870s, he began working as an inventor. He became famous for his many important inventions.

One of McCoy’s most famous inventions was important for engines. Engines need oil to run smoothly. His invention helped all machines, but it especially helped trains. Before his invention, trains would often stop for workers to oil the engine, wasting a lot of time. McCoy invented a machine

▸ Elijah J. McCoy

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▸ Ironing Board

Did you know?

• Ruth Benerito created 55 inventions.

• McCoy also invented the lawn sprinkler.

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▸ By 1899, the automatic lubricator was on almost every train in the U.S

▸ Elijah’s ironing table

that attached to an engine and oiled it. By 1899, almost all trains were using his invention, which was called an automatic lubricator.

Another one of McCoy’s inventions was used in almost every home for 100 years. One day, Elijah’s wife told him how hard it was to iron clothing so that it came out smooth. An iron is a small device that uses heat to take wrinkles out of clothing. Elijah thought of an invention to solve her problem. He invented a small table that could fold and was easy to store and patented it on May 12, 1874. Many people bought his ironing board, which made ironing clothes a lot easier.

automatic lubricator - a machine that attaches to an engine and oils it iron - a small device that uses heat to take wrinkles out of clothing improved - made better convenient - easy

People liked McCoy’s folding ironing board, but soon another inventor, Sarah Boone, improved it. Improving something means making it better. She shaped the table to make it easier to iron sleeves and other hard-toreach parts of clothing.

In the 1950s, Ruth Benerito invented a fabric that did not wrinkle. She mixed a chemical called resin with cotton to make the fabric smooth. This new fabric became very popular in clothing and linens. Over time, scientists improved wrinkle-free fabrics, making life more convenient, or easy, for people.

McCoy and Benrito also created many other inventions that continue to help us today, whether they are big machines or small everyday items.

▸ Sarah Boone improved ironing board

Question REVIEW

1. When did Elijah McCoy patent his folding ironing board?

a. May 12, 1874

b. May 12, 1974

c. May 21, 1874

d. April 23, 1824

2. What did Elijah McCoy invent besides a folding ironing table?

a. Wrinkle-free fabric

b. The iron

c. Train engines

d. The automatic lubricator

3. Which of the following is true about Ruth Benerito’s invention of wrinkle-free fabrics?

a. No one noticed it.

b. People did not like it because it felt like plastic.

c. People liked not having to iron anymore.

d. It did not work.

4. What did Elijah J. McCoy invent that was used in almost every house for 100 years?

5. How did Sarah Boone improve Elijah J. McCoy’s invention?

6. How do you think life became easier after Ruth Benerito’s invention?

STAY SAFE AROUND HEAT

Many things in your house use heat. When we use these items carefully, they are safe. These tips show some ways to be safe at home.

• Make sure children cannot reach hot items.

• For warm water, turn the cold water on before the hot water.

• Never leave appliances, such as space heaters or irons, unattended when they are plugged in.

• Unplug appliances that are not in use.

• Don’t let pot handles stick out where someone might bump into them.

• Use oven mitts or pot holders when handling hot pots and pans.

• Never use an oven or stove without permission.

Write True or False next to each statement.

1. It is best to turn on the hot and cold water at the same time.

2. It’s okay to leave the iron plugged in and on while you go get another shirt from the closet.

3. It's important to make sure no one can bump into pot handles.

4. You should keep the hot water urn as far back on the countertop as possible.

Did you know?

The Rose Parade has been held in California every year since 1890, featuring fancy floats decorated entirely with fresh flowers and plants. The world’s largest yearly parade is in Brazil and lasts for five days.

PARADE

The band marches by, filling the streets with the sound of drums, trumpets, and other instruments. Excited people stand along the sidewalks watching the parade go by. Children sit on their parents’ shoulders, clapping to the music and laughing as they watch clowns and jugglers march. It’s a parade, and everyone joins to celebrate!

▸ Woodrow Wilson’s inaugural parade in 1905

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the United States in 1789, there was a large parade to celebrate. This was the first large parade in the U.S. The army, bands, and groups of people marched in the parade down Pennsylvania Avenue. Pennsylvania Avenue is the area between the White House and the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. It is an important street in the U.S. Many people call it America’s Main Street. It was one of the first streets in Washington, D.C., and is still a very important street.

▸ The inaugural parade happens when a new president is elected. The Capitol building is in the background.

▸ The army parading down Pennsylvania Avenue in 1865 after winning the Civil War

WIKIPEDIA

Most presidents after Washington also had parades to celebrate winning the election. In 1829, President Andrew Jackson invited the public to visit him in the White House after his parade. When too many people visited the White House, the president was forced to escape through a window!

Since George Washington, almost every president has had a parade down Pennsylvania Avenue. In the 1800s, animals were used to pull floats instead of cars. A float is a stage that travels with a parade. Marching bands play music, and many visitors come to watch the new president begin their term.

At first, the president would watch the parade with his family from outside the White House. In 1977, President Jimmy Carter walked one mile to the White House with the parade. The next presidents followed this example, and the tradition was started. Something people do that is passed down through the years is a tradition.

On May 23, 1865, the U.S. Army celebrated the end of the Civil War by parading down Pennsylvania Avenue. There are many other parades to celebrate occasions, or events, like Independence Day on July 4, which celebrates the day the U.S. became country.

parade - a large group of people marching together float - a stage that travels with a parade traditionsomething people do that is passed down through the years

Occasionsevents

▸ A marching band plays music at a parade

▸ Thanksgiving parade

Question REVIEW

1. Which president had to escape through a window because too many people visited him?

a. President Andrew Jackson

b. President Abraham Lincoln

c. President George Washington

d. President Ulysses S. Grant

2. What is a float in a parade?

a. A musical performance

b. A stage that travels with the parade

c. A large, decorated balloon

d. A group of people marching together

3. Which of the following is probably NOT a safety rule at a parade?

a. Do not push or shove others to get a better view.

b. Bring and use fireworks along the parade route.

c. Do not climb on structures to get a better view.

d. Do not throw hard candies into crowds of people.

4. When was the first large parade held in the United States?

5. When did the U.S. Army parade down Pennsylvania Avenue?

6. What is another name for Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C.?

FOLLOW THE PARADE TO THE WHITE HOUSE

The National Mall in Washington, D.C., is a park with many landmarks. The presidential inaugural parade starts at the Capitol building and goes through some of the National Mall on its way to the White House

Look at this map of the National Mall and answer the questions.

Are the following statements true or false?

1. The Washington Monument is south of the White House.

2. The inaugural parade passes the Supreme Court.

3. The inaugural parade does not pass the Lincoln Memorial.

4. The president walks east on Pennsylvania Avenue to give a speech to Congress in the Capitol building.

5. The Supreme Court justices walk east to hear the president speak in the Capitol building.

EICHMANN TRIAL

The Holocaust was one of the worst events in history. The leader of Germany, Adolf Hitler, had a horrific plan called the Final Solution to kill all Jews in Europe. He sent them to places called concentration camps, where they were forced to work, and many were killed.

Did you know?

• Eichmann’s youngest son, who was five years old when his father was killed, said that Israel was right for killing him.

▸ Eichmann listening to his sentence

▸ Jews in France being deported to concentration camps

▸ Guard towers like these surrounded all concentration camps to stop prisoners from escaping.

One of the main people to carry out the Final Solution was Adolf Eichmann. Eichmann’s job was to send all Jews to the concentration camps. In every country that Germany took over during World War II, Eichmann’s men made lists of the Jews. Then they forced the Jews to live in small neighborhoods surrounded by walls called ghettos and finally deported them to concentration camps. When someone is forced to leave a country, they are deported. Eichmann did a very thorough job, and of the six million Jews killed during the Holocaust, most were killed in concentration camps.

In the late 1950s, the Mossad received a few tips that Eichmann was living in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. The Mossad is the Israeli secret police. In April 1960, Mossad agents followed tips until they found Eichmann. He was living near Buenos Aires under the name Ricardo Klement and working for a car company.

▸ The Nazis forced Jews to do extremely difficult work to make them die quicker

WIKIPEDIA

THEHOLOCAUSTEXPLAINED.ORG

▸ Passport for "Ricardo Klement", used by Eichmann to enter Argentina in 1950

final SolutionHitler’s plan to kill all Jews in Europe deport - force a person to leave a country smuggled - snuck something or someone into or out of a country charged - accused

The Mossad agents followed Ricardo for a few days to learn his schedule. They decided to catch him on his way home from work. On May 11, 1960, a team of Mossad agents met Eichmann as he left the bus on his way home from work. They kept him in a rented house for nine days. On May 20, they dressed him as an airline worker and smuggled him to Israel to be put on trial. Sneaking something or someone into or out of a country is smuggling. The news was a big shock to the world because Eichmann was a very important Nazi. Many people were happy that he was found, but people who sided with Nazis were upset that Israel kidnapped him from Argentina.

Eichmann’s trial began in Jerusalem on April 11, 1961, and lasted for four months. Eichmann sat in a bulletproof glass box during the entire trial. He was charged with crimes against humanity for his role in killing millions of Jews. Charging someone with a crime means accusing them of it.. Eichmann said he was following orders and was not responsible for the death of millions of Jews.

A total of 112 survivors told the court about their experiences during the Holocaust. Their stories and hundreds of documents proved that Eichmann knew about the plan to kill all Jews and was a major part of carrying out the plan. One document showed that Eichmann said he was happy that he killed five million Jews. On December 15, 1961, the court sentenced him to death by hanging. He was hanged on July 1, 1962, 17 years after World War II ended.

▸ Eichmann in the yard of Ayalon Prison in Israel, 1961

▸ Ayalon Prison

▸ Memorial to Holocaust victims

WIKIPEDIA 150 | BOOK 2 CHAPTER 9 LESSON 4

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Question REVIEW

1. When was Eichmann hanged?

a. July 1, 1962

b. July 1, 1961

c. May 1, 1962

d. May 31, 1961

2. What did Eichmann’s lawyers argue in the trial?

a. That he was Ricardo Klement and not Eichmann

b. That he was not a Nazi during the Holocaust

c. That he was following orders and was not responsible

d. That he was very sorry for what he did during the Holocaust

3. What sentence did the court give Eichmann?

a. Life imprisonment

b. Community service

c. Death by firing squad

d. Death by hanging

4. What was Adolf Eichmann’s job in the Final Solution?

5. Write two things Eichmann’s men did in the cities controlled by Germany.

6. Why do you think Eichmann chose Argentina as his hiding place?

ORDER OF EVENTS: EICHMANN’S LIFE AFTER WWII

After WWII, Adolf Eichmann spent his life hiding. Many countries were looking for him, including Israel, Germany, and Austria. Put the events below in the correct order based on the article you just read. The first one is done for you.

A. Eichmann is found guilty

B. Eichmann is hanged

C. Eichmann escapes Germany

D. Eichmann becomes Ricardo Klement

E. The Mossad brings Eichmann to Israel

F. The Mossad discovers Eichmann in Buenos Aires

C. Eichmann escapes Germany

ANNE FRANK

Six million Jews were killed in the Holocaust (1939-1945). Most of them had no way of recording their experiences, and their stories are lost. However, a few people did keep diaries that show what life was like for the Jews during the Holocaust. The most famous is the diary of Anne Frank.

▸ The building Anne and her family hid in for two years

▸ Scale model of one of the floors in annex

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Did you know?

• Anne’s birthday, June 12, is now celebrated as International Anne Frank Day.

• Anne’s diary includes many drawings and sketches.

Anne Frank was a Jewish girl born in Germany on June 12, 1929. She was the second daughter of Otto and Edith Frank. Her older sister was Margot. They lived in Frankfurt, Germany, for the first four years of Anne’s life.

In 1933, Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party came to power in Germany and began enacting laws against Jews. They passed laws taking jobs away from Jews and keeping them out of public places. Otto Frank decided to move his family to Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, hoping for safety. Anne was four years old at the time.

Otto Frank started a successful business in Amsterdam, and Anne and Margot began attending, or going to, school. Anne was a bright child who enjoyed writing and storytelling. She had a lot of friends in school and was happy in Amsterdam.

In May 1940, when Anne was 11 years old, the Nazis took over the Netherlands. They passed laws against Jews, and life became very difficult for them. In 1942, the Nazis began sending Jews to concentration camps. Being sent to a concentration camp meant almost certainly dying. Otto Frank realized that his family needed to hide.

▸ The entrance to the secret annex was hidden behind a bookcase.

▸ Anne’s diary

▸ Model of the annex where they lived

ANNEFRANK.ORG

ANNEFRANK.ORG

ANNEFRANK.ORG

ANNEFRANK.ORG

Otto converted the top two floors of his business into a secret annex for the family to live in hiding. An annex is a room added to a building. They told their neighbors they were moving to Switzerland. Another family, the Van Pels, and a dentist named Fritz Pfeffer also hid in the secret annex. Eight people lived in the small room with the windows closed during the day. They also had to be quiet to make sure no one heard them.

enacting - passing attendinggoing to annex - a room that is added to a building employeesworkers

Anne was 13 when she went into hiding in July 1942. She brought with her a diary that she had received for her birthday. She spent a lot of time writing about life in the secret annex. She wrote about the arguments they got into, the things they did to pass the time quietly, and how she missed her former life. She also wrote about the people who helped them by bringing them food, books, and news. These were non-Jewish employees, or workers, of Otto Frank who risked their lives to help them. Miep Gies, a Dutch woman, was one of the helpers of the people hiding in the secret annex.

The Franks lived in the secret annex for two years until the Nazis discovered their hiding place in August 1944. All eight people hiding were sent to concentration camps. It is still unclear how the Nazis found them.

Otto Frank was the only member of the family to survive. After the war, he returned to Amsterdam and learned that both his daughters had died. But Anne’s diary had survived! Miep Gies had hidden the diary in a drawer of her desk. Now she gave the precious diary to Anne’s father. Otto edited the diary and published it in 1947. The book became a bestseller and is considered a very important book about the Holocaust. Millions of people have read Anne’s diary, which has been printed in more than 70 languages.

▸ Otto Frank

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▸ Anne Frank’s tree WIKIPEDIA

Question REVIEW

1. How old was Anne when her family moved to the secret annex?

a. 11 b. 13

c. 9 d. 4

2. Where was Anne Frank born?

a. Amsterdam b. France

c. Germany d. Italy

3. Why do you think the annex windows were closed during the day?

a. To keep the room dark

b. To make sure no one heard any noise they made

c. It was very cold outside

d. The windows were broken

4. Why do you think the Franks told their neighbors they were moving to Switzerland?

5. Why do you think Otto’s workers helped him?

6. Why is Anne’s diary such an important book about the Holocaust?

DIFFERENT TYPES OF DIARIES

Many people keep diaries. Some people write in their diary every day, and some only write a few times a year. There are also different types of diaries. The following are three types of diaries:

• ReflectionWriting your thoughts and feelings about something that happened to you

• GoalsSetting goals for the future and how you can achieve them

• GratitudeWriting about the things you are thankful for

What type of diary would include the following sentences?

1. “I got into an argument with my friend today. I was angry and upset, but after thinking about it, I realized that we were both a little wrong.”

2. “I will study for the math test for 30 minutes every day. Tomorrow, I will make flashcards to help me remember the multiplication table.”

3. “I went for pizza with my family today. I’m thankful for my family. They’re always there for me when I need them, and they make me laugh even when I’m feeling down.”

4. Now it’s your turn! Choose one type of diary and write three sentences in it.

▸ George H. W. while serving as a navy pilot

Did you know?

• Bush flew 58 combat missions as a navy pilot.

• John Adams (elected 1796) and his son John Q. Adams (elected 1824).

▸ Bush as president

▸ Speaking at the UN

▸ Bush with Ronald Regan

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George H. W. Bush was born on June 12, 1924, in Massachusetts. His father, Prescott Bush, was a banker and senator from Connecticut. He taught his son to do the best he could to help the country.

After graduating from high school, George H. W. Bush joined the navy as an aviator and fought in Japan during World War II (1939-1945). Aviators are navy pilots. He was one of the youngest pilots in the U.S. Navy. In 1944, Bush’s airplane was shot down over the Pacific Ocean. Two crew members on board died, but Bush managed to escape the plane before it crashed. He parachuted to the water, where a nearby U.S. submarine rescued him.

GEORGE H. W. BUSH

Did you know that a father and son both became president of the United States? George H.W. Bush was the 41st president, and his son, George W. Bush, was the 43rd president. To help tell them apart, we sometimes call the father “Bush 41” and the son “Bush 43.” Let’s learn more about the life of “Bush 41.”

After the war, Bush became interested in politics. In 1966, he was elected to Congress, where he served until 1971. In 1971, President Richard Nixon appointed Bush as ambassador to the United Nations. An ambassador is a representative from one country to another or to the UN. This was his first time working in foreign affairs, which helped him when he became vice president and president. He served in that role, or job, until 1973.

In 1976, President Gerald Ford appointed Bush as director of the Central Intelligence Agency, known as the CIA. The CIA is the

▸ Bush as director of the Central Intelligence Agency

main spy organization of the U.S. Bush led the CIA for one year and was the only CIA director to later serve as president.

In 1981, Bush became President Ronald Reagan’s vice president. He was an expert in foreign affairs, and Reagan trusted him with important missions to other countries. A person who knows all about something is an expert. He served with Reagan for two terms until 1989.

In 1989, Bush became the 41st president of the U.S. The Cold War ended that year when he met with USSR leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, and announced peace between the two countries.

something unemployedsomeone who doesn’t have a job

While Bush’s work with other countries was very successful, many people were unhappy with his leadership. Many people were unemployed and could not support themselves. Someone who doesn’t have a job is unemployed. In 1992, Bush ran for a second term as president but lost to Bill Clinton. Some people disagreed with Bush’s policies, but everyone respected his honesty and dedication to working for the United States. George H. W. Bush died on November 30, 2018, at the age of 94. His son George W. Bush became the 43rd president in 2001.

aviator - navy pilot role - job expert - a person who knows all about

▸ With his son George W. Bush (left) who became the 43rd president

With the last USSR leader, Mikhail Gorbachev

Question REVIEW

1. When was George H.W. Bush born?

a. June 12, 1924

b. June 12, 1921

c. June 21, 1924

d. May 3, 1924

2. Who was the president when George H.W. Bush was vice president?

a. President Richard Nixon

b. President Gerald Ford

c. President Ronald Reagan

d. President Bill Clinton

3. Who became president after George H.W. Bush?

a. Richard Nixon

b. Gerald Ford

c. Ronald Reagan

d. Bill Clinton

4. List three ways George H.W. Bush served the U.S.

5. What job gave Bush his first experience in foreign affairs?

6. Why do you think Bush didn’t win a second term as president?

THREE-WAY MATCHING: PRESIDENT BUSH’S ROLES

Match the job Bush had with the years he served in the role and what he did in that role. Match all three columns. For example, the answer might be 1Aa. HINT: Match one column at a time.

ROLE YEARS

1. President of the United States

2. U.S. Navy Aviator

3.

A. 1981-1989

WHAT DID BUSH DO? SOLUTION

a. Was shot down over the Pacific Ocean

B. 1989-1993

b. Worked in foreign affairs for the first time

C. 1944-1945

c. Did special foreign affairs missions for President Reagan

4.

D. 1971-1973

d. Ended the Cold War

United States Ambassador to the United Nations

Vice President of the United States

Did you know?

THE BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL

“We did it!”

Winning a game with your team is super exciting! If your team loses, it might not feel so great. But sometimes losing is still a win. If your team loses by one point instead of the usual ten points— that’s a win. It means you did better than before and can work even harder next time. During the Battle of Bunker Hill, the army that lost the battle also won.

In the 1600s settlers from Great Britain, another name for England, moved to North America. They lived in 13 colonies that belonged to England. Colonies are land that a country owns in a different part of the world. The British government sent soldiers to make sure that the people did not try to start their own country.

For many years the colonists did not pay taxes to England. Tax is money the government charges people to run the

George Washington began leading the Continental Army after the Battle of Bunker Hill.

crosses the Charles River

Patriot troops move onto Charleston Peninsula on night on June 16.

Rail fence preventing British troops from attacking the west side of Breed’s Hill.

Boston Harbor

Boston

Chelsea

Charles River

Mystic River Charles River CHAPTER 10 LESSON 3

Bunker Hill

Pariot troops British troops

▸

King George III

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160 | BOOK 2 CHAPTER 10 LESSON 3

country. In the 1760s, King George III of England began taxing the 13 colonies. The colonists said they wouldn’t pay taxes to a government that was so far away. The king got angry and added even more taxes, and in 1775, the colonists began to rebel. When people fight against their government they rebel. They formed the Continental Army and started planning to force the British army out of the colonies.

One of the leaders of the Continental Army was William Prescott. Prescott gathered men near the city of Boston which was controlled by the British. On June 16, 1775, they prepared to attack from the hills across the river from the

▸ William Prescott WIKIPEDIA

▸ The Battle of Bunker Hill WIKIPEDIA

city. One of these hills was Bunker Hill. These hills were higher than the city of Boston, making it a good place to attack the city.

The next day, British General Thomas Gage saw the Continental Army on the hills and attacked them. He expected to win and quickly stop the rebellion. The Continental Army surprised the British by fighting very well. The Continental Army killed the first two groups of soldiers that attacked them. Hundreds of British soldiers died trying to attack the hills.

colonies - land a country owns in a different part of the world tax - money the government charges people to run the country rebel - when people fight against their government retreat - run away

When the British attacked again, the Americans ran out of bullets and retreated. When an army runs away, they retreat. The British won the battle, but more than 1,000 soldiers were killed or hurt. The British army realized that the Continental Army knew how to fight. The colonists also saw that they might be able to win independence from England. This helped them fight well throughout the Revolutionary War until they finally won in 1783.

King George heard how well the colonists fought, and he was very angry. He signed a document called the Proclamation of Rebellion, saying that all the colonists were traitors. He also said it was against the law to help them in any way. The document also said that England would stop the colonies’ rebellion no matter what. The war lasted another seven years before King George gave up and recognized the United States as its own country.

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▸ The Battle of Bunker Hill ▸ British General Thomas Gage

Question REVIEW

1. When did the Battle of Bunker Hill start?

a. June 16, 1775

b. June 17, 1775

c. June 16, 1776

d. June 17, 1776

2. When did the colonists win their independence?

a. 1775

b. 1776

c. 1781

d. 1783

3. Who was the British king during the Revolutionary War?

a. King James I

b. King Henry VIII

c. King George III

d. King Edward I

4. Why did the colonists rebel against the British government?

5. Why did William Prescott choose Bunker Hill to attack Boston?

6. How do you think losing the Battle of Bunker Hill was also a win for the Continental Army?

TAXING TIMES FOR THE COLONIES

When King George III passed too many tax laws, the colonies rebelled. The following are some of the taxes he passed making the colonies angry. Look at the chart and answer the questions.

1. Which law forced colonists to serve dinner to British soldiers?

a. Sugar Act

b. Stamp Act

Sugar Act

Stamp Act

Tax on sugar, wine, and other foods

Tax on printed items, such as newspapers and postcards

Quartering Act Required colonists to provide food and a room in their house for British soldiers

Townshend Acts

Taxes on items brought from other countries, such as glass and paper

Tea Act Tax on tea

c. Quartering Act

2. Which item had two taxes?

a. Glass of tea

c. Bowl of soup

d. Tea Act

b. Pot of meat

d. Barrel of wine

3. Which tax act charged tax on paper?

a. Sugar Act

c. Townshend Acts

b. Stamp Act

d. Tea Act

4. Which tax did King George III pass first?

a. Sugar Act

b. Stamp Act

c. Quartering Act

d. Townshend Acts

DANIEL BOONE

Do you like exploring new places? Exploring means going somewhere to see and learn about the area. You might explore a new park or playground to see if you would have fun there. Some people explore countries to see if they want to move there from where they live. Daniel Boone was an American explorer who found Kentucky.

▸ Showing Boone where Kentucky was WIKIPEDIA

Did you know?

• Boone was captured by the Native Americans in 1778. They took him to Detroit to make him a member of their tribe. He soon escaped and went back to Boonesborough.

• Some of the names of the Native American tribes in Kentucky were Yuchi, Cherokee, and Chickasaw.

• The name Kentucky comes from the Native Americans’ word “kenta,” which means “field.”

• The language that the Native Americans in Kentucky spoke was called “Muskogean.”

Daniel Boone was born in Pennsylvania in 1734. He was a very curious child and often went exploring. He became friends with local Native Americans. The Native Americans taught him how to live in the woods. They showed him how to trap animals for food and clothing. As Boone grew up, he learned more and more about living on his own while exploring areas where few people lived.

In 1767, Daniel Boone heard about an area where very few people lived. Boone wanted to explore and hunt in this new area. He began traveling over the Appalachian Mountains to

▸ Daniel Boone

▸ Boonesborough

▸ Boonesborough

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the area we now call the state of Kentucky. On June 7, 1769, Boone finally reached Kentucky. He stayed there for two years, exploring Kentucky and nearby areas.

Boone loved Kentucky and decided to start a town there. It took a long time to cut down trees to build a road to his new town. Finally, in 1775, Boone started his town, called Boonesborough. The Native Americans lived in America for a long time before the United States became a country. The Native Americans did not like the people of Boonesborough. They attacked the town many times. To attack means to start a fight. The town of Boonesborough closed in 1877.

exploring - going somewhere to see and learn about the area attack - start a fight

After the United States became a country in 1776, Boone moved to Virginia. There, he worked for the government. He moved to Missouri when he was 64 and died there in 1820. He was 85 years old. He is remembered as someone who helped America grow into the big country that it is. Many exciting stories have been told about Daniel Boone, but most of them did not actually happen.

▸ Appalachian Mountains

1. Which new area did Daniel Boone explore?

a. Pennsylvania

b. Kentucky

c. Kansas

d. Virginia

2. Which state did Daniel Boone NOT live in?

a. Mississippi

b. Kentucky

c. Missouri

d. Virginia

3. How old was Boone when he died?

a. 64 b. 86

c. 85 d. 91

4. What is Boone remembered for?

5. Why do you think the Native Americans attacked the new city in Kentucky?

AROUND THE STATE OF KENTUCKY

Below is a map of Kentucky. Using the map, answer the questions below.

Questions:

1. Which state is to the south of Kentucky?

a. Illinois

b. Ohio

c. West Virginia

d. Tennessee

2. What is the capital city of Kentucky?

a. Frankfort

b. Lexington

c. Louisville

d. Paducah

3. Where in Kentucky are mountains located?

a. North

b. South

c. East

d. West

4. Which two rivers are found in Kentucky?

a. Cumberland River and Kentucky River

b. Mississippi River and Colorado River

c. Kentucky River and Columbia River

d. Cumberland River and Connecticut River

5. What is the name of the cave that is found in Kentucky?

1769

JUNE 7

Boone reached Kentucky and began exploring the area.

1775

OCTOBER 13

The U.S. Navy was founded during the American Revolution.

1838

JANUARY 6

Morse had a working telegraph machine.

1860

APRIL 3

The Pony Express, a special mail delivery service began.

1760.

1775

JUNE 16

The Continental Army prepared to attack from the Bunker Hill.

1800.

1850

SEPTEMBER 9 California became a state.

1804

MAY 14

The Lewis and Clark expedition set off from St. Louis, Missouri.

1862

JANUARY 1

Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act.

1870

FEBRUARY 9

President Ulysses S. Grant signed a law creating the National

1881

NOVEMBER 15

A group of workers met in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and began a labor union.

1865

MAY 23

The U.S. Army celebrated the end of the Civil War by parading down Pennsylvania Avenue.

1874

MAY 12

McCoy invented a small table that could fold and was easy to store.

1890.

1862

SEPTEMBER 17

The first major battle was fought on Union land.

1883

NOVEMBER 18

American railroads implemented Sir Sandford Fleming’s time zones.

1907

APRIL 17

The busiest day ever at Ellis Island. 11,747 people came to Ellis Island.

1900

SEPTEMBER 8

A hurrican hit Galveston with winds blowing over 130 miles per hour.

1900.

1916

APRIL 5

Conservationists asked Congress to establish the National Park Service (NPS).

1903

DECEMBER 17

Orville Wright flew the first airplane.

1906

APRIL 18

A deadly earthquake hit the city of San Francisco, California.

1919

JANUARY 6

President Roosevelt died

1924

JUNE 12

1933

MARCH 12

Roosevelt gave

1931

MARCH

1929

JUNE 12

1931

OCTOBER 25

1933

JANUARY 5

President Coolidge died.

1940.

and his team of scientists created the first synthetic material.

George H. W. Bush, the 41st president was born.

4

Construction of the Hoover Dam began.

his first fireside chat.

The George Washington bridge opened for cars.

Anne Frank, the girl who wrote a holocaust diary, was born.

1942

NOVEMBER 29

The government started the Food Rationing Program.

1946

MARCH 5

One of Churchill’s most famous speeches was given in Fulton, Missouri.

1940.

1945

OCTOBER 24

The United Nations officially started.

1955

DECEMBER 1

Rosa Parks, a black woman, was arrested for not giving up her seat on a bus to a white person.

1959

JANUARY 3

Congress passed the Alaska Statehood Act.

1960

MAY 11

Mossad agents took Eichmann as he left the bus on his way home from work.

1962

OCTOBER 14

A U.S. spy plane found missiles in Cuba.

SEPTEMBER 1

In the U.S. September is National Honey Month.

1991

DECEMBER 25

Gorbachev officially broke up the USSR.

2003

FEBRUARY 1

The Columbia shuttle broke into a few pieces of fire shooting through the sky.

2015

MARCH 27

Kelly launched into space with Russian astronaut Kornienko on a 340-day mission.

1993

FEBRUARY 26

Ramzi Yousef exploded a bomb in the parking lot of the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

1990

DECEMBER 1

The Chunnel Tunnel met between England and France.

2015.

2000

NOVEMBER 2

The fist astronauts moved in to the International Space Station.

GLOSSARY

accurate exact address talk to altitude The height of something in the air altitude The height of something in the air ambassador representative to the UN annex a room that is added to a building applicant a person trying to get a job attack start a fight attending going to automatic lubricator a machine that attaches to an engine and oils it aviator navy pilot beekeepers people who own many beehives where bees make honey bomb shelters rooms strong enough to protect people from bombs boycott when a group of people stops using a specific store or service building codes special rules for how to build buildings in ways that are safe in case of natural disasters capsules spaceships that return to Earth by parachute challenging difficult channel water passageway between two pieces of land charged accused charter a document that describes the purpose of an organization colonies land a country owns in a different part of the world commander the person in charge commerce business

communism type of government where the government owns everything confessed told the police that he did something against the law

conservationist someone who works to protect land and animals consumers shoppers convenient easy convenient easy crisis a very bad or scary event cyclists people who ride bicycles dam a wall across a body of water to stop the water and control its flows democracy government created by the people’s vote deport force a person to leave a country depression when a country is poor for a long time deter stop documented wrote down earthquake drill a practice of what to do in case there is an earthquake

elastic stretchy emancipation proclamation a law freeing all slaves in the U.S. employees workers enacting passing evidence items or facts that prove who is responsible for a crime expedition a mission to explore expert a person who knows all about something exploring going somewhere to see and learn about the area fibers threads final solution Hitler’s plan to kill all Jews in Europe fleet a group of ships owned by a country float a stage that travels with a parade foreign affairs the way a country treats other countries founded when an organization is created glider an airplane without an engine that only flies once it is already in the air glider an airplane without an engine that only flies once it is already in the air gravity the force that pulls things downwards to the ground harbor a place where ships can safely dock when they reach land historical something that is important in history homeless someone who does not have a house to live in hurricane a very strong storm that can cause a lot of damage illegal against the law illegal against the law immigrants people who move into a new country immigrated moved into a new country improved made better inclement bad inform tell infrastructure things the country needs to run initially at the beginning inspection when people check something to make sure it works

iron a small device that uses heat to take wrinkles out of clothing

iron curtain an imaginary wall dividing Europe after World War II labor union a group of people who represent a lot of workers who all want the same things landmark historical building lines pipes maintenance workers people who make sure things are in good condition

manufacture to build something using machines midshipmen students at the Naval Academy mission control people on the ground who help the space missions

mode way

monopoly when only one company sells a certain product natural disasters natural events that can be dangerous and cause a lot of damage

natural habitat the place an animal is supposed to live to stay healthy natural resources materials in nature that humans use navigation figuring out directions without a map nectar food for bees that is in flowers

nuclear missiles very dangerous weapons occasions events

operation work

orbit to move around a planet in space in a curved path

parade a large group of people marching together passengers people who are traveling by bus, car, plane, or train

patent license from the government giving the owner and no one else the right to sell the product patrolled guarded

pedestrians people who walk along a road where vehicles go

pollen small pieces in flowers that help certain foods grow

population the number of people living in a certain area predict saying what will happen in advance prime minister leader of a country produce make ration limit

rebel when people fight against their government rebels people who fight against their government recipient a person who receives something record keep track of something by writing it down refueled filled with gas

refueled filled with gas required need to do

reservoir where water is stored before it goes to people's houses and farms resolutions decisions retreat run away

revolution when the people of a country fight their government

riverbed the floor of a river role job

safety precautions ways to make sure a person is being safe

satellite a manmade object that orbits different planets and collects information about them sawmill a factory where trees are cut and shaped into different sizes of wood

scarce less available

seamstress a woman who sews clothing

seawall a wall that surrounds a city or island to protect it from floods seceded separated sentence deciding to punish someone smuggled snuck something or someone into or out of a country sparked began sparked began stagecoach a type of vehicle pulled by a team of horses strike when a lot of workers stop working at the same time

subject someone ruled by a king

submarine a warship that is driven completely underwater success doing every part of a plan successor someone who takes over a person’s job superpower a country with a lot of power surrendered gave up fighting a war suspension bridge a bridge where the road is suspended, or held up, by strong cables between two or more towers

sweatshop factory where workers sweat from being forced to work so hard

synthetic made from a material not found in nature tax money the government charges people to run the country

telegram message sent using a telegraph machine telegraph a machine that sends beeps through wires to other telegraph machines

test pilot a pilot who tests inventions before other pilots begin using them

tradition something people do that is passed down through the years trying hard

turbine a machine that creates electricity from water unemployed someone who doesn’t have a job valuable very useful and important vehicles something used for transportation, like cars, trucks, buses, and motorcycles veto throw out

volunteers people who help others in need without getting paid wages pay

This Month in History Book 2

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