Documents for America's History, Volume 1

Book excerpt: Designed to accompany America’s History, Seventh Edition, this primary-source reader offers a chorus of voices from the past to enrich the study of U.S. history. Document selections written by both celebrated historical figures and ordinary people demonstrate the diverse history of America while putting a human face on historical experience. A broad range of documents, from speeches and petitions to personal letters and diary entries, paints a vivid picture of the social and political lives of Americans, encouraging student engagement with the textbook material. Brief introductions place each document in historical context, and questions for analysis help link the individual primary sources to larger historical themes.