100 Key Documents in American Democracy
This one-volume collection of documents on the development and meaning of American democracy fills an important need for source material. The standard work,Documents of American Historyby Henry S. Commager (9th edition, 1973), was updated in a tenth edition in 1988, but only volume 1 (covering to 1898) of the two-volume set was published.The editor of the current work is in the Department of History and Political Science at York College and is the author of a documentary history of the civil rights movement. An advisory board, comprised of secondary school librarians and history professors, helped shape a volume that will be useful to a wide range of users.The introduction notes the central organizing theme as the concept of democracy as a process that is an ongoing struggle rather than one that is completed. Thus, while we find classic speeches and writings, lesser-known expressions of America's democratic promise are also included.The work is arranged chronologically within sections, such as "The Early Republic" and "The Progressive Era." Beginning with Powhatan's call for peace in his 1609 "Letter to John Smith" and concluding with Jesse Jackson's moving speech at the 1988 Democratic National Convention, the documents encompass the essence of the democratic idea. Each piece is prefaced by a short chronology that sets the historical context and a commentary on the document that often refers to other writings in the book. Shorter documents are reprinted in their entirety, while longer ones have been edited. Following each document, a source for the document is identified and a few books are suggested for further reading.The appendix includes the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Black-and-white illustrations complement the text. A detailed index lists authors, titles, and subjects.A comparison of this work with Commager shows some overlap (Mayflower Compact, Gettysburg Address), but his work stressed documents that have been crucial in American history overall.100 Key Documents in American Democracyis a unique and inspiring work that will prove useful for high-school, public, and undergraduate libraries and is highly recommended. The carefully planned selection will serve as a model for other collections of source documents.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.