Words That Built a Nation: A Young Person's Collection of Historic American Documents

Presents and explores how many famous American documents and speeches impacted the political and social structure of the nation throughout the years.

Grade 5-9-Arranged in chronological order, this collection of 39 original documents and speeches begins with the Mayflower Compact and concludes with Hillary Clinton's 1995 "Speech to the United Nations Conference on Women in China." The selections range from the well known (The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, and The Gettysburg Address) to those that address the problems and concerns of minorities, such as the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka decision and statements by Chief Joseph, Malcolm X, C?sar Ch vez, Rachel Carson, and Shirley Chisholm. Accompanying each document is introductory commentary, a note about the author, and a short description of the public response to the document. Black-and-white illustrations include photos or reproductions of the authors and contemporary posters, engravings, or paintings. Although this book is attractive and the presentation engaging, its audience will be limited. Most libraries already hold general collections such as Robert Baron's Soul of America (Fulcrum, 1994) and John G. Hunt's Words of Our Nation (Gramercy, 1993), both of which offer a broader range of documents. Most of these selections are also widely available through electronic reference sources. While there is not enough commentary and supplementary material to make this collection stand out in a crowded field, libraries needing circulating material should consider it as an additional resource.
Mary Mueller, Rolla Junior High School, MO
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