Great Documents in U.S. History Volume I: Early Settlement to Reconstruction (1620-1870)

Twenty texts acquaint students with the process of primary source analysis while presenting significant slices of American history. Contents: The Mayflower Compact, Common Sense, The Declaration of Independence, slave journey, ''What Is an American?'', Washington's Farewell Address, the Louisiana Purchase, the Monroe Doctrine, The Liberator, the Trail of Tears, the Lowell Mills, conditions for the mentally ill, the Mexican War, the California Gold Rush, women's rights, the Compromise of 1850, ''The Nature of Slavery,'' the Gettysburg Address, the Reconstruction Amendments. Each lesson provides a short essay on a specific document's historical context; its importance; the full or excerpted text; necessary vocabulary; comprehension, critical thinking, and essay questions; and writing prompts for making connections and relating the past to students' lives. Grades 9-12. Answer keys. JWW131.