Eye on Historical Sources

The building of the Erie Canal was a watershed moment in the modernization of the United States. Often considered a waste of time, "Clinton's Ditch" eventually proved to everyone that more efficient transportation was sure to revolutionize industry and the country itself. In this volume, readers are presented with numerous primary sources, including portraits, maps, paintings, and engineering diagrams. These primary sources help readers gain a better understanding of the era and building project. They also strengthen readers' ability to analyze and discuss important sources from the past. Sidebars encourage readers to ask and answer questions about the primary sources as they learn why the Erie Canal was a major turning point in U.S. history.

The Trail of Tears marked the systematic segregation of indigenous people from white Americans. Starting in 1816, several indigenous nations were forced to give up their lands in the southeastern region of the United States for new lands west of the Mississippi. Historians estimate that more than 100,000 people were relocated between 1830 and 1850. The physical Trail of Tears spans more than 5,045 miles and has been designated a National Historic Trail. This volume is filled with primary sources that illustrate just how much these groups of indigenous people suffered after they were forced to leave their homes. Readers will have a chance to delve into primary sources from that time, such as news articles, cartoons, paintings, and books that chronicle the forced migration of these indigenous peoples. By questioning the validity and accuracy of these documents, readers will strengthen their understanding of what qualifies as a primary source.

The California gold rush of 1849 was a defining era in U.S. History. The discovery of gold led to a mass migration to the country's west coast not only from the East Coast, but from all over the world. Travellers thronged to the area in the hope of becoming rich, but the truth is, few did. Many more made a living selling goods and services to the gold miners. This volume is packed with fascinating primary sources that bring the gold rush into detailed focus. Readers will view and analyze numerous primary sources, including paintings, handwritten documents, political cartoons, photographs, and more. Sidebars encourage students to ask and answer questions about primary sources surrounding the gold rush.

Throughout history, women in many countries have been denied suffrage, or the right to vote. Women's suffrage was first highlighted as an issue in Britain with the publication of Mary Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the Rights of Woman in 1792. In the following century, people advocated for women's suffrage more and more. In the United States, leaders of the women's suffrage movement included Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucy Stone, and Susan B. Anthony. As a result of their hard work, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prevented women from being denied suffrage. They now had the same voting rights as men. Primary sources in the form of photographs, first-hand accounts, publications from the movement, and drawings allow readers to gain insight into the difficulties women faced in their fight for voting rights. Sidebars encourage readers to ask and answer questions pertaining to women's suffrage.

The Salem witch trials marked one of the darkest moments in U.S. history. In 1692, two young children were accused of being "bewitched" and were arrested. More than 150 arrests occurred over the next two months, and a special court was created to try the cases. A total of 20 people were found guilty of being witches, and all of them were hanged. Inside this compelling volume, readers are presented with the facts of the Salem witch trials through primary sources from the era. Primary sources include letters, paintings, drawings, articles, and more. Readers are encouraged to analyze the images and decide if they are primary sources. By asking and answering questions about the Salem witch trials and the primary sources surrounding them, readers are sure to gain a solid understanding of what is and what is not a primary source.

"Remember the Alamo!" is one of the most memorable and meaningful quotes from U.S. history, so memorable that we still study the battle to understand its significance to our lives today. Numerous primary sources about the Alamo transport readers into the past to learn about this momentous development in U.S. history. Documents written by Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, Davy Crockett, and William Barret Travis help readers grasp the lasting significance of the Battle of the Alamo, as well as the events leading up to and following the battle. Other primary sources include paintings, drawings, portraits, and more. Sidebars encourage readers to ask and answer questions to improve their ability to analyze primary sources.

The Underground Railroad was a system of people who wanted to help Southern slaves escape to the free North or Canada in secret. Between 40,000 and 100,000 people escaped to freedom thanks to the Underground Railroad. Readers are presented with a wealth of primary sources, including photographs, personal accounts, literature from the time, and pre-Civil War legislation pertaining to slavery. Readers will have a chance to reach their own conclusions based on facts they find in the primary sources. Sidebars provide readers with supplementary information about the difficult route slaves traveled to reach freedom and encourage readers to continue asking questions about primary sources about the Underground Railroad.

Between 1892 and 1954, millions of immigrants passed through the threshold of Ellis Island and became American citizens. From Ellis Island, these immigrants spread out all over the country. Many helped build the U.S. infrastructure and helped make the country one of the greatest in the world. Readers will view numerous primary sources surrounding Ellis Island and the people who visited the immigration center. These sources include letters, paintings, photographs, maps, and more. In addition, sidebars prompt readers to think critically about the primary resources and to answer essential questions about them.