Reading the American Past, Volume I: To 1877: Selected Historical Documents

Found this book here on Amazon for way less than what the university wanted to charge me for it! Bought this for a college history class, but I really enjoyed the readings from this collection of Primary Sources. Probably nothing in here that you can't find online, but it's convenient that so many historical writings are in one place--one book. I will be keeping this book and will probably read through some of my favorite documents again from time to time.

The use of primary sources in conjunction with history textbooks is critical for helping students develop historical thinking skills. This book is a collection of primary sources used mainly with The American Promise textbook although it can easily be used with many others. The contents are easily found on the Internet, but my experience with students has shown me that they will not read much outside of the classroom, especially if they can use, “My Internet was down,” as an excuse. Giving them printouts or a book of the primary sources goes a long way to alleviate that concern.

What students fail to understand is that the primary sources are what inform us about the past. First year students often only see a few primary sources or have little clue as to what they are due to poor instruction from instructors. It is imperative for instructors to use the primary sources actively in the learning process. Otherwise, there is little point in having students purchase this book. I like the sources in this book. They are arranged in chapters that correspond with The American Promise.

As Dr. Johnson says in his foreword, primary sources capture the past in ways that a textbook never can. Reading the actual words (translated of course) of long dead historical figures gives students a perspective into the past that is impossible to generate otherwise. To see what Columbus had to say about discovering the New World provides insight into his thinking. The same applies to Joseph Warren, James Madison, Walter Colton, and many others. I use the speech by Frederick Douglass on the Fourth of July in my classes and it mesmerizes them, especially when we encounter it spoken aloud with inflection.

The bound collection of primary sources is a good resource to have. You would think they could be contained in the textbook itself, but adding over 300 pages to the already large book probably played a role in the decision not to do so. Also, many instructors skip primary sources outright which in my opinion is a big mistake. I use an e-textbook and manage my primary sources through it, but it often involves a lot of printing the sources out. I would rather have the sources available this way in a physical book.

I recommend that students who have this book for required reading actually read the book and compare the sources to the textbook. How do the sources fit into what the textbook says? Why is the author of the primary source writing or saying what they wrote or said? Answering these questions involves aspects of historical thinking that the use of primary sources excels at. For that reason, I heartily endorse this collection of primary sources for use in the American history survey course to 1865 or 1877.

Well done

Required school book.

Comes with stickers, folded pages, stamps, etc.
doesnt look like new. but all pages are still there :) and worth for the price ($2 sth)

My college American history course required this book, and I got it in time and the condition was as described. It was used, but gently used. Good product, serviced its purpose for the semester

My daughter needed this book for a deadline at school, and she made the deadline. The book arrived promptly and allowed her to continue to be the scholastic success that she is!

This book came on time and when I opened it there were no writings just as it said on line. Saved lots of money so I'm very happy. IT gets five stars from me!

Required text for my daughter's history class providing much detail about early American formation. Relates what happened in America to what early settlers were escaping FROM in Europe.

I'm glad I got this book it's in percect shape, well taked care of looked like new and it was cheap... So I couldn't be happier:)