Retracing the Past Readings in the History of the American People, Since 1865

An * indicates a new selection. Each chapter concludes with "Glossary," and "Implications." Preface. Acknowledgments. Introduction: Sources and Interpretations. PART I. Chapter 1. Past Traces: Jourdon Anderson, "To My Old Master" (1865). Reading: Eric Foner, "African Americans in Public Office During the Era of Reconstruction." Chapter 2. Past Traces: *Lee Chew, "Life of a Chinese Immigrant" (1903). Reading: Jack Chen, "The Chinese Link a Continent and a Nation." Chapter 3. Past Traces: *Lydia Allen Rudd, "Diary of a Westward Travel" (1852). Reading: Christine Stansell,"Women on the Great Plains, 1865-1890." Chapter 4. Past Traces: *The Omaha Platform of the People's Party" (1892). Reading: *Bruce Palmer, "The Southern Populist Critique of American Capitalism." Chapter 5. Past Traces: *Horatio Alger, Jr., "Bound to Rise, Or, Up the Ladder" (1900). Reading: Carol Nackenoff, "Of Factories and Failures: Exploring the Invisible Factory Gates of Horatio Alger, Jr." Chapter 6. Past Traces: *Red Cloud (1890) and Flying Hawk (1936) on Wounded Knee. Reading: *Laura Jane Moore, "Lozen: An Apache Woman Warrior." PART II. Chapter 1. Past Traces: *James T. Rapier, "The Agricultural Labor Force in the South" (1880). Reading: Jacqueline Jones, "A Bridge of Bent Backs and Laboring Muscles: The Rural South, 1880-1915." Chapter 2. Past Traces: *John Muir, "Mount Ritter" (1911). Reading: Peter Wild, "John Muir: The Mysteries of Mountains." Chapter 3. Past Traces: *Herbert Croly, "Progressive Democracy" (1914). Reading: Jeffrey P. Moran, "Modernism Gone Mad: Sex Education Comes to Chicago, 1913." Chapter 4. Past Traces: *Advertisements (1925/1927). Reading: Mary Murphy, "Messenger of the New Age: Station KGIR in Butte." Chapter 5. Past Traces: *Meridel LeSueur, "The Despair of Unemployed Women" (1932). Reading: Edward R. Ellis, "What the Depression Did to People." Chapter 6. Past Traces: *A. Philip Randolph, "Why Should We March?" (1942). Reading: Mark H. Leff,"The Politics of Sacrifice on the Home Front in World War II." PART III. Chapter 1. Past Traces: *Students for a Democratic Society, Port Huron Statement (1962). Reading: Nils Kristian Bogen, "Rebels Without a Cause: Toward an Understanding of Anxious Youth in Postwar America." Chapter 2. Past Traces: *Ladies' Home Journal, "The Young Mothers of the 1950s" (1956). Reading: Lynn Y. Weiner, "Reconstructing Motherhood: The La Leche League in Postwar America." Chapter 3. Past Traces: *Restrictions at Levittown (Late 1940s) Reading: Kenneth T. Jackson, "The Drive-In Culture of Contemporary America." [read more]