This comprehensive introduction to high transverse momentum reactions at hadron colliders begins with the Standard Model of high energy physics and a description of the specialized detectors used. It then analyzes the reactions and summarizes the state of the art in hadron collider physics defined by Tevatron results. The experimental program at the detectors being built for the Large Hadron Collider at CERN is also described, with details of the general strategy to find the postulated Higgs particle.