Words that Make America GreatThis collection of key documents illuminates American national identity and national policy since Columbus, bringing into sharp focus what it means to be an American. The nearly 200 excerpts range from Martin Luther King's legendary "I Have a Dream" speech to spoken and written words with worldwide impact, such as the Tennessee Valley Authority Act and the establishment of the Work Projects Administration (W.P.A.). Divided into fifteen sections - for example, foreign affairs, presidential authority, civil rights, and more - the American drama unfolds chronologically in each section, a unique departure from the typical timeline presentation. The document introductions framing the historical contexts and their influence over time are by Jerome Agel. The section introductions, by historian Milton Cantor, provide a lucid summary of four centuries of American history. Publisher's Note: We expect readers to differ in their views of the greatness of many of the historic documents in this interpretive documentary history. Some readers may take issue, for example, with the inclusion of the "Contract with America" or the Roe v. Wade decision. Divergent opinions, like this collection itself, reflect the on-going democratic dialogue among Americans - a dialogue that creates national greatness in the larger sense of encompassing the differences among citizens and ultimately incorporating them within a discernible collective purpose. In this way, we believe, all these documents have made America great. |
Contents
IN THE BEGINNING | 1 |
FORMING A MORE PERFECT UNION | 34 |
E PLURIBUS UNUM | 69 |
Copyright | |
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Administration agreed Amendment American armed ARTICLE AT&T authority Barbara Jordan Bill Bill Gates citizens civil colonies Confederate Congress assembled Constitution Convention Court Dawes Act declared defense District duty economic election enacted equal established executive existing Federal forces foreign Fourteenth Amendment Franklin Delano Roosevelt freedom granted hereby House Indian Indian Territory individual interest issue justice labor land legislation legislature liberty living majority ment military necessary Negro Nixon nomic North parties Paul Allen peace person political President protection purpose race ratified regulations Representatives Republic Republican reservation respect Richard Nixon River Secretary Section Senate sion slave slavery social South Southeast Asia speech Star-Spangled Banner territory thereof things tion tional tive treaty tribes Union United V-E Day vote War Powers Resolution Washington women