Americans - The Spirit of a Nation - Set of 5

Frederick Douglass

In September 1838, Frederick Douglass jumped aboard a train leaving Baltimore. He faced a long and dangerous journey as a runaway slave, but Douglass believed freedom was worth the risk. When he reached New York City, Douglass basked in his newfound freedom. He worked hard and risked his life to end slavery in the United States, and he became one of the most famous abolitionists, writers, and orators in American history.

John Brown

John Brown hated slavery. On October 16, 1859, he and his armed followers took a violent stand against it. John Brown led his raiding party to the armory in Harpers Ferry, Virginia, with the intent of inciting slave rebellions throughout the South. However within two days, ten of his men would be killed and Brown was arrested. Although the Harpers Ferry raid failed, John Brown had struck a blow against slavery. A staunch abolitionist his entire life, John Brown gave his life to end an evil that had existed in the United States for over two hundred years.

Jesse James

Gads Hill, Missouri was a tiny, peaceful town until Jesse James and his gang decided to commit the first peacetime train robbery in Missouri history. After robbing the train of thousands of dollars, the bandits left a note for the newspapers proclaiming their act “The Most Daring Robbery on Record.” Many towns, trains, banks, and stagecoaches fell victim to the James-Younger gang. Although he was a criminal most of his life, Jesse James became a legendary figure in American history.

Jim Thorpe

American Indian Jim Thorpe made great feats a routine during his athletic career, winning gold medals in the Olympics and playing professional baseball and football. Although he faced bitter racism during his life, Thorpe continued to excel. When he received his gold medal for the decathlon in the 1912 Olympics, the King of Sweden proclaimed him the "greatest athlete in the world."

P.T. Barnum

This biography of the world's greatest showman is jam packed with intrigue, disappointments, surprises, and even hoaxes. The events in the very first chapter set the tone for P.T. Barnum's life--which at times seems fantastical and unreal. Mr. Barnum did not start out to be a showman. He was quite the adventurous entrepreneur and businessman before becoming a curator of the absurd and extraordinary, though he was always overshadowed by unbelievers and those wanting to prove him to be a phony. Even his family members seemed to be against him. Barnum knew how to give people what they wanted--a taste of the sensational--and knew how to exploit that. Though successful as a businessman, his political views alienated many, especially as an opponent of slavery. Never one to sit still, it was not long before he joined forces with partners in a circus. This latest union would be the genesis of what P.T. Barnum is best known for today: The Barnum and Bailey Circus.