Major Problems in American History Volume 1: To 1877

Designed to encourage critical thinking about history, theMajor Problemsseries introduces students to both primary sources and analytical essays on important topics in U.S. history. This collection serves as the primary anthology for the introductory survey course, covering the subject's entire chronological span. Comprehensive topical coverage includes politics, economics, labor, gender, culture, and social trends. The Second Edition features integrated coverage of women in Volume I, as well as a streamlined chronology in Volume II. Key pedagogical elements of theMajor Problemsformat have been retained: 14 to 15 chapters per volume, chapter introductions, headnotes, and suggested readings. New!Chapter 7 in Volume I now focuses on foreign policy, Western expansion, and Indian removal, while Chapter 8 addresses the transportation and market revolutions. New!Coverage in Chapter 15, Volume II, extends through the recent past, addressing the George W. Bush administration and American life since 9/11. An introductory chapter--"How to Read Primary and Secondary Sources"--helps students distinguish between types of sources and teaches them how to read and interpret critically. An expandedFurther Readingsection provides students with a wealth of classic and cutting-edge scholarship that relates to key themes in each chapter. Revised source titles allow students to put readings in historical context.