Shaping of America 1783-1815 - About | Reader's Guide

Shaping of America, 1783–1815: Primary Sources (one volume) tells how the United States was forged into a politically and economically independent nation in the words of the people who lived and shaped it. Eighteen excerpted documents provide a wide range of perspectives on this period of history. Included are speeches of Presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson; treaties with Britain and with various Native American tribes; legislation related to land, such as the Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance; documents associated with the Louisiana Purchase; an everyday diary by midwife Martha Ballard, which provides an actual record of the role women played in their communities during the formative years of the nation; and letters between black social activist Benjamin Banneker and Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson about slavery. Approximately sixty black-and-white illustrations and maps help illustrate the material. Shaping of America, 1783–1815: Primary Sources also includes sidebars highlighting interesting people and fascinating facts, document-specific and cumulative subject glossaries, a timeline, research and activity ideas, sources for further reading, and an index.

Coverage and features

Each excerpt presented in Shaping of America, 1783–1815: Primary Sources includes the following additional material:

• Introductory material places the document and its author in a historical context.
• "Things to remember while reading ..." offers readers important background information and directs them to central ideas in the text.
• "What happened next ..." provides an account of subsequent events, both in the shaping of the nation and in the life of the author or speaker.
• "Did you know ..." provides significant and interesting facts about the document, the author, or the events discussed.
• "Consider the following ..." poses questions or provides research and activity ideas about the material for students and teachers to consider.
• "For More Information" lists sources for further reading on the author, the topic, or the document.

Other features of Shaping of America, 1783–1815: Primary Sources include numerous sidebars highlighting people and events of special interest. Approximately sixty black-and-white photos complement the text. In addition, each excerpt is accompanied by a glossary running in the margin alongside the reprinted document that defines terms, people, and ideas. The volume begins with a timeline of events and a "Words to Know" section, and concludes with a general bibliography and subject index of people, places, and events discussed throughout Shaping of America, 1783–1815: Primary Sources.

Shaping of America, 1783–1815 Reference Library

Shaping of America, 1783–1815: Primary Sources is only one component of the three-part U•X•L Shaping of America, 1783–1815 Reference Library. The other two titles in this set are:

Shaping of America, 1783–1815: Almanac (one volume) presents a comprehensive overview of the early history of the United States. The Almanac is divided into fifteen chapters. The first ten chapters chronologically address different time-frames during this early age in U.S. history. Featured subjects include the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the U.S. Constitution; the early battles between those who favored a strong central government and those who favored strong state governments; foreign relations with Britain and France; the presidential administrations of George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison; the War of 1812; and the dramatic Louisiana Purchase, which instantly more than doubled the United States. The final five chapters describe topics that are of importance throughout the period—farming, religion, women's roles in everyday life, black slaves and Native Americans, and the westward expansion of the United States.

Shaping of America, 1783–1815: Biographies (two volumes) presents the life stories of fifty-one men and women who played key roles in the early history of the young nation. Profiled are well-known figures such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Marshall, Dolley Madison, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, and Eli Whitney. Also featured are lesser-known individuals such as the first chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, John Jay; the founder of the first school dedicated to the higher education of women, Sarah Pierce; black social activist Prince Hall; and religious leader John Carroll.

A cumulative index of all three titles in the U•X•L Shaping of America, 1783–1815 Reference Library is also available.

Dedication

These volumes are dedicated to Hazel Hanes, who has a love of history.

Special thanks

Gratitude to Sue Van Leuven for assistance on literature research. Much appreciation also goes to copyeditor Jane Woychick, proofreader Amy Marcaccio Keyzer, indexer Theresa Murray, and typesetter Integra Software Services.

Comments and suggestions

We welcome your comments on Shaping of America, 1783–1815: Primary Sources and suggestions for other topics to consider. Please write: Editors, Shaping of America, 1783–1815: Primary Sources, U•X•L, 27500 Drake Rd. Farmington Hills, Michigan 48331-3535; call toll free: 1-800-877-4253; fax to (248) 699-8097; or send e-mail via http://www.gale.com.