"An indispensable contribution to the understanding of our heritage." - Robert A. Caro

"This insightful collection will fascinate, delight, and challenge all who are interested in the progress of the American nation."--Annette Gordon-Reed

Here, in a single volume, are the documents (speeches, letters, tweets, Supreme Court decisions, and more) that have forged American history. This 11th edition is now updated with a new chapter on the COVID-19 pandemic, the January 6, 2021 insurrection, and the Biden presidency.

Accompanied by interpretations of their significance by noted historian Richard D. Heffner and journalist Alexander B. Heffner, the important documents in this book include:

- The Declaration of Independence
- The Constitution of the United States
- Frederick Douglass' "What, to the Slave, is the Fourth of July?"
- The Monroe Doctrine
- The Emancipation Proclamation
- Woodrow Wilson's War Message to Congress
- Franklin D. Roosevelt's "Four Freedoms" speech
- John F. Kennedy's inaugural address
- Martin Luther King, Jr.'s letter from the Birmingham City Jail
- The National Organization for Women (NOW) Statement of Purpose
- Roe v. Wade Supreme Court Decision
- Documents related to September 11 and the Iraq War
- Barack Obama's "A More Perfect Union" speech
- Articles of Impeachment against Donald J. Trump

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