Documenting America: The Primary Source Documents of a Nation

So rapid has been the growth of the United States since the mid-20th century and so profound the changes it has experienced that its current superpower status in the world sometimes obscures the radical social, political, economic, and technological transformations it has experienced in that time. Although international and domestic challenges-from the Cold War to the war on terror to healthcare-as well as successes on each front have alternately stunted and accelerated the country's ascent, its role in world affairs is undeniable. With seminal documents of the each era complementing relevant text, this engrossing volume examines the trajectory of American history between the administrations of Harry Truman and Barack Obama and the factors that have shaped and sustained its development.

While the United States represents freedom to many, much of its history tragically includes the enslavement of a large portion of its population. When the fight for emancipation came to an epic head, civil war ensued and the country was divided as never before. Inflamed passions on both sides of the slavery debate inspired fervent rhetoric, much of which is reflected in the primary source documents interspersed with the text in this thought-provoking volume, which chronicles the events of the American Civil War and the Reconstruction period that followed.

Struggling against unjust taxation and British intervention in colonial affairs, the colonies that would come to be part of the United States of America were ripe for revolution in the late eighteenth century. Led by impassioned individuals, Americans waged a series of protests against the British that eventually led to the Revolutionary War and effectively culminated with the War of 1812. In this compelling volume, readers are introduced to the architects of American independence and their most ardent arguments against British rule, the events of the American Revolution, and the documents that helped shape a country.

Characterized largely by expansionism, economic growth, and social and political reform, the period in American history following the War of 1812 proved advantageous to a number of Americans. Even as many industries flourished, political unrest remained on the horizon as legislators debated the issue of slavery and the handling of newly acquired territories. Complete with eyewitness descriptions of key events and issues as well as seminal documents of the time, this absorbing volume recounts the historical, cultural, economic, and political developments of the United States in the decades leading up to the Civil War.

The New World, as the land that comprises the United States was once known, held the promise of opportunity and changing fortunes for those who discovered and colonized it. Even before becoming an independent nation, the land proved to be a bounteous yet challenging home. This lively volume recounts the early history of America, using a diverse selection of the era's personal and historic documents as guideposts.

With one eye on the world and one on the home front, the United States at the turn of the 20th century was distinguished both by its emerging global engagements-including the acquisition of new territories and its involvement in the First World War-and the social movements that surged throughout the country. Readers examine American history between the end of the Civil War and the end of World War I, considering in depth both the imperialist and progressive influences that heralded the country's future position as a major force on the international stage. Meticulously chosen articles, speeches, and other primary source documents are included alongside narrative to provide a complete picture of the era.

The inward-looking, isolationist tendencies of the United States as it emerged from the first World War may give the impression of a country vastly different from the outward-looking incipient superpower that began to materialize during WWII. As it transitioned from economic depression to international prominence under the steady hand of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the United States slowly carved out a place for itself on the world stage. Seminal documents and personal accounts are interspersed with historical narrative in this enthralling volume, which chronicles the political and social history of the United States in the aftermath of one world war through its engagement in another.

The newly reunified United States experienced a tenuous peace following the American Civil War. It was a period characterized by great technological advances, but also by increased political, economic, and social polarization. This penetrating look at American history between the Civil War and 20th century includes firsthand accounts that reveal the prevailing ideologies of the time and shed light on significant people and events.