Discovering the American Past: A Look at the Evidence - Softcover

William Bruce Wheeler; Susan D. Becker

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0395359163 ISBN 13: 9780395359167

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Co, 1986

Synopsis

A briefer version of the popular Discovering the American Past text, this book is a unique resource, providing an active approach to learning that draws students directly into the history of America.

About this title

About the Author

William Bruce Wheeler received his Ph.D. from the University of Virginia in 1967. He is co-author of DISCOVERING THE GLOBAL PAST (2012), DISCOVERING THE AMERICAN PAST (2012), and DISCOVERING THE WESTERN PAST (2008). He has also written books on Tennessee history and the Tellico Dam.

Susan Becker received her Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University in 1975. Her areas of interest include U.S. social, cultural, and women's history. She has written THE ORIGINS OF THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT (Greenwood Press, 1981), along with a host of articles on women's history.

Review

Note: Each chapter includes The Problem, Background, The Method, Questions to Consider, and an Epilogue. 1. First Encounters: The Confrontation Between Cortes and Montezuma (1519-1521) The Evidence Letter by Cortes to King Charles V of Spain Artwork by Aztecs and Europeans Written impressions of Cortes by Aztecs 2. Rhythms of Colonial Life: The Statistics of Colonial Massachusetts Bay The Evidence Statistics on population, mortality rates, farms, marriage, migration, wealth distribution, taxables, and poor relief 3. What Really Happened in the Boston Massacre? The Trial of Captain Thomas Preston The Evidence Map of the site of the Boston Massacre Excerpts from trial testimony of witnesses Drawing of position of "charged bayonets" Diagram of a musket Paul Revere's engraving of the Boston Massacre 4. Away from Home: The Working Girls of Lowell The Evidence Excerpts from the Boston Quarterly Review on slave labor versus free labor Excerpts from the Reverend Henry A. Mills, Lowell, As It Was, and As It Is Timetable of the Lowell Mills Excerpt from the Voice of Industry Title page of the Lowell Offering Selections from the Lowell Offering "Song of the Spinners" Selection from Lucy Larcom, A New England Girlhood Photos of women factory workers Letters from women factory workers 5. The "Peculiar Institution": Slaves Tell Their Own Story The Evidence Reminiscences and narratives from former slaves Slave songs Excerpts from autobiographies of Frederick Douglass and Linda Brent (Harriet Jacobs) 6. The Price for Victory: The Decision to Use African American Troops The Evidence: From the North: Petition of northern blacks to President Lincoln Excerpts from reminiscences and newspaper articles Excerpts from Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation Selections from the writings and letters of President Lincoln The Evidence: From the South: Excerpts from newspaper articles and editorials, correspondence, laws, and proclamations 7. Reconstructing Reconstruction: The Political Cartoonist and the National Mood The Evidence Political cartoons of Thomas Nast 8. How They Lived: Middle-Class Life, 1870-1917 The Evidence Advertisements for clothing, beauty and health aids, firearms, books and home study courses, typewriters, insurance, bicycles, automobiles, household appliances and furnishings. Architectural drawings and descriptions of houses 9. The "New" Woman of the 1920s: Image and Reality The Evidence Popular fiction versus nonfiction views of women in the 1920s Still photographs of Mary Pickford and Clara Bow 10. Documenting the Depression: The FSA Photographers and Rural Poverty The Evidence Documentary photographs as instruments of reform 11. The Burdens of Power: The Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb, 1945 The Evidence Excerpts from memoirs and reminiscences by Truman, Stimson, Eisenhower, and others involved in the decision 12. A Generation in War and Turmoil: The Agony of Vietnam The Evidence Suggested release forms for oral history interviews Responses of five males and two females to the Vietnam War Family photographs 13. Democracy and Diversity: Affirmative Action in California The Evidence Excerpts pertaining to the American ideal of "equality" Excerpts from Proposition 209 Speeches, articles, statistics, and opinion polls for and against affirmative action

About this edition

• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Co
• Publication date: 1986
• ISBN 10: 0395359163
• ISBN 13: 9780395359167
• Binding: Paperback