This two-volume primary-source collection provides a diverse selection of voices from the nation's past while emphasizing the important social, political, and economic themes of a U.S. history survey course. Thirty-one new documents (one per chapter) present history from the perspective of notable leaders and ordinary people alike, focusing particular attention on the West, gender, ethnicity, and America in a global context. A revised introduction offers clear and helpful guidance on how to read and analyze primary documents. Edited by one of the authors of The American Promise and designed to complement the textbook, Reading the American Past features over 150 documents, each accompanied by a headnote and questions for discussion. Chapter headnotes and comparative questions further encourage students' understanding of the sources.