Books in Documenting America: The Primary Source Documents of a Nation series

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.

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.

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 engagementsincluding the acquisition of new territories and its involvement in the First World Warand 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 countrys 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.