Download or read book Illinois written by Roger Biles and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 341 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: While devoting attention to the touchstones of history, Illinois illuminates also the achievements of ordinary people, including the women, the African Americans, and the other minorities who - along with the politicians, the captains of industry, and the military heroes - contributed to the state's growth and prosperity. National events shaped the state as well, and Biles explores the impact of such crises as the Civil War and World War II on the people of Illinois.