Conflicts in American History

Gr 9 Up—A stupendous collection of primary documents. Each volume covers a distinct period from 1492 to the present and addresses a broad range of topics encompassing critical social, economic, political, religious, and military conflicts. An introduction to the era and an annotated chronology begin each volume, followed by articles and a dozen or so documents on such topics as "Christopher Columbus: Hero or Villain?" "Disenfranchisement, Segregation, and the Jim Crow South," "Fundamentalism and the Right to Life," and "The Iraq Wars." A historical overview, topic-specific chronology, and annotated bibliography are also found under each of these headings. The well-chosen documents, which range from testimony and acts to speeches and diary entries, and reflect our nation's diversity, are introduced with a short paragraph. Source information is provided. A section of biographical profiles concludes each volume. Black-and-white reproductions of photos, political cartoons, posters, and maps, among other images, illustrate the set. Conflicts concludes with a "Master Chronology" (through 2010), an annotated bibliography, and a set index. The scope, variety, and quality of these primary and secondary resources make this a superior addition.—Patricia Ann Owens, Illinois Eastern Community Colleges