Great Issues in American History, Vol. I From Settlement to Revolution, 1584-1776

This first volume of Great Issues in American History -- three volumes of documents that cover the history of America from its settlement to the present -- gives us a generous sampling from the major political controversies in the Colonial period. Included are such documents as Richard Hakluyt's "Discourse of Western Planting" (1584), "Letter from Christopher Columbus to the King and Queen of Spain" (undated, probably 1694), "The Third Virginia Charter" (1612), Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" (1776) and "The Declaration of independence" (July 4, 1776). Each has an explanatory headnote, and there are brief general introductions that set the selections in their historical context. In order to fit both Colonial and Early National courses, documents covering 1765-1776 appear at the end of this volume and again at the beginning of Volume II. Volume II From the Revolution to the Civil War, 1765-1865 Edited by Richard Hofstadter Volume III From Reconstruction to the Present Day, 1864-1981 Edited by Richard Hofstadter and Beatrice K. Hofstadter

Richard Hofstadter (1916–1970) was one of the leading American historians and intellectuals of the twentieth century. Throughout his career, he worked at many universities, most recently as the DeWitt Clinton Professor of History at Columbia University. His works include the Pulitzer Prize–winning The Age of Reform and Anti-intellectualism in American Life.

Clarence L. Ver Steeg was a distinguished historian and scholar. He taught history at Northwestern University for decades and served as the dean of the graduate school for 11 years. Northwestern recognized his contributions by establishing the Clarence L. Ver Steeg Professorship in the Arts and Sciences. He published 11 monographs and textbooks, dozens of scholarly articles, and more than 100 book reviews. Ver Steeg passed away in 2007.