This collection of primary sources includes both classic and lesser-known documents describing the rich mosaic of American life from the pre-contact era to the present day. The sources, both public and private documents-ranging from letters, diary excerpts, stories, novels, to speeches, court cases, and government reports-tell the story of American history in the words of those who lived it. Split between two volumes, this chronological text is conveniently tailored to match the split volumes of the survey text it accompanies.