The Small and the Mighty: Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, from the Founding to the Civil Rights Movement

An updated edition of the breakout bestseller that inspired a new generation of history lovers

In The Small and the Mighty, “America’s Government Teacher” Sharon McMahon brings her signature clarity, warmth, and humor to bear on a cast of twelve improbable champions who will challenge everything you thought you knew about who makes America great. You’ll meet a woman astride a white horse riding down Pennsylvania Avenue, a young boy detained at a Japanese incarceration camp, a formerly enslaved woman on a mission to reunite with her daughter, a poet on a train, and a teacher who learns to work with her enemies.

This paperback edition has been expanded by the author to include a bonus chapter and a detailed study guide. McMahon’s characters once again become familiar guides, lighting the path toward a more just, peaceful, and free world.

Sharon McMahon is one of America’s most trusted civic educators and a highly sought-after public speaker whose audiences include the National Governors Association, federal chief judges, and senior government officials across the country. She is the founder of The Preamble, one of the most widely read civics newsletters in the country. Her honors include a Jefferson Award for Public Service and the Freedom Forum’s Free Expression Award. Her community of Governerds has raised millions for disaster recovery, medical debt relief, classroom grants, and more.