Major Issues in American History – serie

America has struggled with racial issues since its birth centuries ago. In this pivotal study of racism in the United States, over 90 primary documents provide compelling evidence of how race has affected and shaped our country throughout the years. A narrative overview of each event, expert analysis, the text of primary sources contemporary to the time of the event, and ready reference materials will help both high school and college students to understand how race has affected the country. From the framing of the Constitution to the removal of American Indians and the Civil War, students will learn how racism is prevalent even in today's society, be it in the war on terrorism, anti-immigrant feelings, or views against casinos on Native American reservations. Documents include excerpts from speeches, letters, pamphlets, books, essays, newspaper, magazine, and journal articles, government reports, congressional debates, laws, and court decisions.Each section concludes with suggested readings and Web sites. The work is fully indexed.

Women's rights issues have been a part of the political and social fabric of the United States since the Declaration of Independence. In fact, women's rights activists have often wielded principles enunciated in the Declaration as they struggled to secure equality. This reference source examines 15 controversial issues concerning women's rights in the United States. A historical overview introduces each issue, followed by the presentation of primary documents that illustrate the various positions women and men have taken in support of or opposition to the issue at hand.Chapters highlight such landmark issues as the Declaration of the Rights of Women, women in the labor movement, women's suffrage, the politics of birth control and abortion, and Title IX. Each chapter concludes with an annotated list of sources to direct students in further research, making this a perfect starting point for students interested in examining the drama, impact, and constant national influence of women's issues.

Are Americans entitled to a Manifest Destiny? This book explores 13 key issues of Western expansion from the early 1800s through the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. Expert commentary and 73 primary documents represent a variety of views on each issue. Documents include presidential letters and speeches, first-person accounts and letters, newspaper and magazine opinion pieces, court decisions, and congressional debates. Voices range from those of presidents to ordinary people caught up in the events of the time.Some of the major topics considered are:• Lewis and Clark's expedition• Indian and Mexican land claims• The effect of western expansion on slavery• Importing Chinese laborers to help build the transcontinental railroad• Government opposition to Mormons settling in the West• Texas annexation• The Homestead Act• The Sand Creek Massacre• The Battle of Little Big Horn• The creation of Yellowstone National Park• Wounded Knee 1890A narrative overview of each event, an annotated bibliography following each event, and a timeline of key events make this volume an indispensable resource.

Since its birth, America has been involved in more than a dozen military conflicts. From the battle of King's Mountain in the American Revolution to the Persian Gulf War, this resource provides a wealth of primary documents and commentary on pivotal events of war and peace. Expert commentary and the text of 70 primary documents expressing a variety of positions on these issues bring to light the complexities of American military conflicts. Documents include excerpts from speeches, diaries, pamphlets, broadsides, songs, newspaper articles, congressional debates, and government reports.Among the issues covered are the arguments between Federalists and anti-Federalists over the War of 1812, the debate over westward expansion during the Mexican War, the New York City draft riot in the Civil War, the debate over the Indian Question, the annexation of the Philippines, the Espionage and Sedition Acts of World War I, the decision to drop the bomb on Hiroshima, the recall of General Douglas MacArthur, the My Lai massacre, and the bombing of Iraq. Each entry contains a comprehensive discussion and analysis of the event, followed by the text of 3-8 primary documents presenting a variety of viewpoints by participants in the event. A narrative introduction to the topic, a helpful annotated bibliographic research guide for each event, including recommended web sites and videos, and a timeline of key events will aid the student researcher. This is an ideal resource for student research and class debate.

Freedom of expression is enshrined in the Constitution as a sacred right of the American people. The appeal is clear: Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech or of the press. Yet the ink had barely dried on the Constitution before the first landmark freedom of expression issue exploded onto the scene. This student resource traces 11 such issues that have polarized the nation. These events show the variety, complexity, and intensity that freedom of speech and expression issues engender.Magee illustrates how the United States has worked through these contentious periods with American citizens' freedoms remaining intact, if not enhanced. An annotated bibliography follows each issue to provide avenues for further research, and a timeline and general bibliography provide additional reference support.

The issues and controversies surrounding the creation of our federal republic—and the rights of the federal government—have reverberated through many watershed events in the 200+ years of American history. This book will help students to debate those issues as they played out in eight crises from 1787 to the beginning of the 21st century. Expert commentary and 54 primary documents contemporary to the time were carefully selected to represent a variety of views on each issue. Events range from the creation of the federal republic to the ongoing controversy over women's rights.Primary documents include presidential letters and speeches, newspaper opinion pieces, first-person accounts and letters, Supreme Court decisions, congressional debates, statutes, resolutions, and political party platforms. A narrative introduction to the issue of federalism over American history will help students contextualize the events in context. A chronology and bibliography of books and Web sites will assist the student researcher.

Workers' rights and labor relations have been shaped by wars, depressions, government policies, and global competition. One hundred annotated primary documents spanning from 1827 to the present offer immediate access to the key contentious issues in American labor history.Over one-hundred annotated primary documents present compelling and informative snapshots of the shifting and often contentious role played by workers and organized labor in American politics, economics, and history. Shaped by wars, depressions, government policies, judicial rulings, and global competition, the history of worker's rights and labor relations often offers a grim picture of the pursuit of the American Dream. A narrative overview of each event, expert analysis, the text of primary sources contemporary to the time of the event, and ready reference materials will help students understand the conflicting issues behind these events and apply critical thinking skills to their evaluations of those issues. The documents provide insight into the views of people involved in the decisions, actions, and criticisms of each event covered.The work offers an overview of the history of American labor relations, then presents compelling and informative primary documents illustrating eleven key events in labor history: The Emergence of a Labor Movement, 1827-1837; The New England Shoemakers' Strike of 1860; The Railroad Strikes of 1877; The Pullman Strike and Boycott of 1894; The Lawrence Strike of 1912; The Miners' Program, 1919-1923; The Textile Strike of 1934; The General Motors Strike of 1936-37; The Taft-Hartley Act; The Memphis Sanitation Strike of 1968; and The Air Traffic Controllers Strike of 1981. Each section concludes with suggested readings, Web sites, and videos. The work is fully indexed.