American History: Primary Sources
This collection features historical documents and firsthand accounts of seminal moments in American history from the colonial period to the present. These lists will help students master key terms and concepts from these important texts.
Second Treatise of GovernmentIn this 17th-century treatise, Locke argues that governments are only legitimate when leaders rule with the consent of those who are governed. Read the full text here.
Common SenseIn this pamphlet, Paine urges the American colonists to fight for independence from Great Britain and form a new government. Read the full text here.
We the PeopleFounding U.S. DocumentsLearn the words that shaped American history with this revolutionary collection, featuring vocabulary lists for the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, Federalist Papers, and more.
The Federalist PapersThe essays collectively called The Federalist Papers were written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay to overcome common objections to the proposed United States Constitution and encourage its ratification. Our lists will ensure you understand essential vocabulary from these foundational works of U.S. government.
Amendments to the U.S. ConstitutionImprove your understanding of American history by learning these terms from the Bill of Rights and other amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
On LibertyIn this influential essay, Mill examines the nature of liberty as it applies to the individual and society as a whole. Read the full text here.
The Autobiography of Benjamin FranklinThis memoir traces Franklin's life from his birth in 1706 through 1757. It details his work as a printer, writer, and inventor, as well as his involvement in the French and Indian War. Read the full text here.
Democracy in America, Volume IIn 1831, French aristocrat Alexis de Tocqueville visited the United States. In this book, he records his impressions of the customs and culture of the young nation. Learn these words from the translation of Volume I by Henry Reeve.
Civil DisobedienceOriginally published as "On the Duty of Disobedience" and based on an 1848 lecture, Thoreau's work is a civil libertarian classic. Questioning the authority of all governments, Thoreau especially challenges both the right of the state to tax him and the morality of a government that allows slavery.
The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah EquianoOr Gustavus Vassa, The AfricanIn this autobiography, first published in 1789, Olaudah Equiano recounts his life as an enslaved person and then as a free man.
Narrative of the Life of Frederick DouglassWritten by the influential abolitionist, Douglass's autobiography bears witness to the horrors of slavery.
Twelve Years a SlaveAdapted into an Oscar-winning film, this memoir tells the story of a free black man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the nineteenth century. Read the full text here.
Incidents in the Life of a Slave GirlAfter escaping to New York, Harriet Jacobs wrote this account of the horrors of slavery, focusing particularly on the suffering of enslaved women.
Letter of the LawThe Legal Lexicon of U.S. Supreme Court DecisionsThe U.S. Supreme Court has the power to shape history. Our collection of Supreme Court decisions will help students understand and master the vocabulary used to decide pivotal cases.
Presidential ParlanceInspiring and Thought-Provoking Words from U.S. PresidentsThese speeches by U.S. Presidents from Abraham Lincoln to Ronald Reagan introduced a number of enduring phrases—like “military-industrial complex” and “rugged individualism”—into the American lexicon. Explore our collection of pivotal presidential speeches and learn the words that captivated a nation.
The Souls of Black FolkW.E.B. Du Bois explores the struggles and triumphs of generations of African Americans in this collection of essays.
They Called Us EnemyIn this graphic memoir, actor and activist George Takei recounts the internment of his Japanese-American family during World War II. The book was cowritten by Justin Eisinger and Steven Scott, with art by Harmony Becker.
A Mighty Long WayMy Journey to Justice at Little Rock Central High SchoolIn this memoir, Carlotta Walls LaNier recounts being one of the first black students to integrate Little Rock Central High School.
Warriors Don't CryA Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock's Central HighIn 1957, Melba Pattillo was one of a group of teenagers who integrated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. In this memoir, she describes her fight to survive and thrive in the sometimes violent aftermath of the Supreme Court decision that declared segregation unconstitutional.
March Forward, GirlIn 1957, Melba Pattillo Beals was one of nine African-American students who integrated Little Rock Central High School, an experience she discusses in her celebrated memoir Warriors Don't Cry. In this follow-up, she recounts growing up in the South under oppressive Jim Crow laws.
March: Book OneWritten with Andrew Aydin and illustrated by Nate Powell, Congressman John Lewis's award-winning graphic novel chronicles his experiences in the U.S. Civil Rights Movement.
March: Book TwoWritten with Andrew Aydin and illustrated by Nate Powell, Congressman John Lewis's award-winning graphic novel chronicles his experiences in the U.S. Civil Rights Movement.
March: Book ThreeWritten with Andrew Aydin and illustrated by Nate Powell, Congressman John Lewis's award-winning graphic novel chronicles his experiences in the U.S. Civil Rights Movement.
While the World WatchedIn 1963, the Ku Klux Klan bombed a church in Birmingham, Alabama, killing four African-American girls. In this memoir, survivor Carolyn Maull McKinstry recounts the bombing and life in the South under Jim Crow laws.
Turning 15 on the Road to FreedomMy Story of the 1965 Selma Voting Rights MarchLynda Blackmon Lowery was the youngest participant in the 1965 Selma to Montgomery protest marches that aimed to secure voting rights for African Americans. In this memoir, she recounts her experiences in the Civil Rights Movement.
The Autobiography of Malcolm XAs Told to Alex HaleyIn this powerful memoir, Malcolm X describes the development of his revolutionary consciousness and his transformation into an influential activist and leader.
The Beloved World of Sonia SotomayorIn this memoir, Sonia Sotomayor recounts her childhood in the South Bronx, her education and early work as a lawyer, and her eventual appointment to the Supreme Court of the United States.
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