This exceptional work will be essential to students needing assistance interpreting primary sources, and teachers will find it invaluable for incorporating those resources into their curriculums. The entries (some with typos) examine 133 chronologically arranged documents beginning with the British crown's Proclamation Act of 1763 and ending with the 2003 Supreme Court decision Lawrence v. Texas. In between, the volumes cover major texts such as the Declaration of Independence, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and Roe v. Wade, as well as lesser-known selections such as the Treaty of Fort Pitt with the Delaware Indian Nation, Elizabeth Cady Stanton's Seneca Falls Convention Declaration of Sentiments, César Chávez's Commonwealth Address, and the 2002 Bybee Torture Memo. A database whose password is provided in the set covers the same information. The full-text documents are included except for lengthy Supreme Court cases, which the reader's guide notes are available "at any of several free Internet sites." The set's value lies in the in-depth information on a document's origin and influence, and the objective analysis provided (especially helpful when the legal or archaic language is difficult to understand). This well-organized work features entries with consistent subdivisions that illustrate the multifaceted examination of the resources. The subheadings include: "Overview," "Context," "Time Line," "Explanation and Analysis of the Document," "Impact," "Questions for Further Study," "Related Documents," and "Essential Quotes."

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