Defining Documents is a new series from Salem Press. Each two-volume title, designed in consultation with an expert in the field, contains approximately 80 primary source documents with an in-depth critical analysis. Articles begin by introducing readers to the historical context, followed by a description of the author's life and circumstances in which the document is written. A document analysis, written by professional writers and historians, guides readers in understanding key elements of language, rhetoric, and social and political meaning that define the significance of the author and document in American history. Each title is organised by chapter themes, highlighting major ideas in the period.
The first title in the series is
Exploration and Colonial America. It begins with a collection of exploration and colonial documents, including important journals of exploration, reports of New World settlements, early political tracts on self-governing. Also included are narratives on colonial life and slavery and indentured servitude.
Themes
Exploration and Colonial America is arranged around six themes:
- Journals of Exploration
- Reports of New World Settlement
- Early Political Tracts on Self Governing
- Sermons and Narratives on Religious Life
- Narratives on Colonial Life
- Slavery and Indentured Servitude
