Discovering the American Past: A Look at the Evidence: To 1877

by William Bruce Wheeler, Susan Becker, Lorri Glover

This primary source reader in the popular DISCOVERING series contains a six-part pedagogical framework that guides readers through the process of historical inquiry and explanation. The text emphasizes historical study as interpretation rather than memorization of data. Each chapter is organized around the same pedagogical framework: The Problem, Background, The Method, The Evidence, Questions to Consider, and Epilogue. The Seventh Edition integrates new documents and revised coverage throughout. For example, the Reconstruction chapter, appearing in Volumes I and II, now explores Thomas Nast's political cartoons and their effect on public opinion.

Genres: History

332 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

Reviews

[Peter Paquette]

Background: This is a textbook, so keep that in mind. I am one of those people who saw this in a bookstore and thought “Yeah a history book sounds fun”. If you aren’t this person, you won’t like the book. If you are a student, I thought it was very educational and fun. But I wasn’t forced to read it, so there’s that.

I like that the book either directly references primary sources, or the next closes things to it for most of its historical examples. Very rarely did I think that a statement was the author’s own opinion, but rather was a historical fact. I liked my history books when I was in high school, but this would not have been a bad one to use as an alternative.

[Amaranta]

I read Chapter 2: THE THREAT OF ANNE HUTCHINSON

It is interesting to read a book that ask you to answer some questions and pay attention to certain details (i think it is not necessary for me because eng. lit. student?? hahaa but this is what i had to read)
For me it was obvious since the first line that Anne was accused not for breaking the law but for having so much power and being a woman.

[Emily]

i have trauma from this book in class

[Kelsey]

Not my favorite. But it did help me decipher between really hard primary and secondary sources.

[Rachel]

3/5

[Matt]

Pretty well done. Organized and to the point. Great for seniors or freshmen in college.