The United States of America is a complex nation. At various times in its nearly 250-year history, the country’s citizens have endured racism, poverty, and gun violence. They’ve been split apart and brought together by politics, news media, and ideas about what constitutes a basic human right. In this nonfiction series, early high schoolers will learn the history behind many social studies hot topics, including immigration, voting rights, and LGBTQ+ discrimination; how and why we continue to struggle today; and what’s being done to improve those challenging aspects of living in America. Each title includes real-life profiles of people who are living the featured topic, factual sidebars, a glossary, and an index.
In a democracy, such as the United States, citizens elect government officials to represent them by exercising their constitutional right to vote. This nonfiction social studies title for young adults examines the history of suffrage in America, including how and when women, Black, and American Indian voters, among others, were granted voting rights through acts and amendments. It explores the election process, registration, ballots and polling places, and barriers to strong turnouts, such as ID laws and language access. Includes sidebars, a glossary, a timeline, and profiles of suffragist Alice Paul and political leader Stacey Abrams.