Book Description

The Schlager Anthology of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era offers a modern, original sourcebook covering a pivotal era in U.S. history. From the creators and publishers of Milestone Documents in American History, this new title is built on the principles of inclusivity and accessibility. While presenting the essential primary sources from the Gilded Age and Progressive Era, from the Reconstruction amendments to the Sherman Anti-Trust Act to Plessy v. Ferguson, this anthology also emphasizes often-marginalized voices, from women to immigrants to Native Americans, Asian Americans, and African Americans. In addition, document texts are abridged to remain brief and accessible, even to struggling readers (including ESL students), while activity questions range in difficulty from basic to more advanced. Edited by Jennifer Koshatka Seman (Borderlands Curanderos: The Worlds of Santa Teresa Urrea and Don Pedrito Jaramillo, Univ. of Texas Press) and featuring the contributions of numerous scholars, The Schlager Anthology of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era covers 80 milestone sources from this period of American history. An Inclusive Approach The Schlager Anthology of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era includes all of the classic documents from this era while also emphasizing a wide spectrum of voices and perspectives, including visual sources. Chapter 1 ("Reconstruction, Post-Reconstruction, and the Jim Crow South") focuses on the triumph and ultimate tragedy of Reconstruction and the white southern reaction to it. The volume opens with Jourdan Anderson''s letter to his former slave owner, before covering the Sharecropper Contract and Mississippi Black Codes in 1865. The three Reconstruction Amendments are included, as are indelible images such as Thomas Nast''s "Worse Than Slavery" and the Lynching of C.J. Miller. The unit then covers two iconic figures from African American history: Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois. In Chapter 2 ("Industrialization, Immigration, and Labor in the City," students and researchers will find coverage of the increasing urbanization of America and its many ills; the reactions to that development via Progressive legislation; the battle over alcohol use and abuse; immigration battles; and the growing importance of organized labor. Here the anthology covers well-known acts such as the Chinese Exclusion Act, little-known voices such as Bettie Gay ("The Influence of Women in the Alliance") and Anzia Yezierska (Bread Givers), and famous images from the muckraking journalist Jacob Riis. Chapter 3 covers imperialism and Westward expansion, through an in-depth look at the destruction of Native American communities. From Chief Joseph to Zitkala-Sa and Black Elk, the unit presents essential voices of the loss of Native American sovereignty. Also included in this chapter are images documenting the Wounded Knee Massacre and the advent of Indian boarding schools, plus sources covering the U.S. imperialism via the war in the Philippines. The volume concludes with a focus on the Progressive Era in Chapter 4. Students and researchers are presented with major legislation via the Pure Food and Drug Act as well as important articles from Progressive figures such as Florence Kelley, Ida B. Wells, and Jane Addams. A Focus on Accessibility The Schlager Anthology of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era features carefully curated primary sources along with highly targeted activities to help students engage with and analyze primary documents from this important era. Document texts are carefully abridged to remain brief and accessible, even to struggling readers (including ESL students), both at the high school as well as early college levels. The commentary that accompanies each source is simple and straightforward. First, a fact box contains the key information about the source: document title, author name, date, document type, and a brief statement of the document''s significance. Next, each document includes a concise overview section that places the source in its proper historical context. Following the document text is a list of activity questions that prompt students to think more deeply about the source and its meaning and impact, as well as a glossary that defines any unfamiliar words or references in the document text. Other Features In addition to the nearly 70 sources and accompanying commentary, The Schlager Anthology of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era includes chapter introductions and Further Readings sections for each of the four chapters in the set. The set also features a comprehensive subject index and an appendix of document categories. The Schlager Anthology of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era represents a modern approach to historical reference. It is an essential resource for students, researchers, and teachers of this important era in U.S. history and is appropriate for high school, academic, and public libraries.