Going to the Source, Volume I: To 1877: The Bedford Reader in American History

by Victoria Bissell Brown, Timothy J. Shannon

Many document readers offer lots of sources, but only Going to the Source combines a rich selection of primary sources with in-depth instructions for how to use each type of source. Mirroring the chronology of the U.S. history survey, each chapter familiarizes students with a single type of source while focusing on an intriguing historical episode such as the Cherokee Removal or the 1894 Pullman Strike. Students practice working with a diverse range of source types including photographs, diaries, oral histories, speeches, advertisements, political cartoons, and more. A capstone chapter in each volume prompts students to synthesize information on a single topic from a variety of source types. The wide range of topics and sources across 28 chapters provides students with all they need to become fully engaged with America’s history.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Textbooks

400 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 8, 2011

Reviews

[Sarah]

Again, read this for a college 100-level class. I only wish the class and texts could have gone into more depth and provided more extensive primary sources.

[Cheryl]

Excellent primary sources and editorial comments on how to analyze various source types.