The 1900s (1900-1909)

This new addition to the Defining Documents series profiles the first decade of the 20th century in America through careful, close analysis of historic documents from the era. Over forty primary source documents are studied, delivering a thorough examination of this crucial period in American history.

Defining Documents in American History: The 1900s explores the years from 1900 to 1909, offering in-depth critical and analytical essays of various documents created in the years immediately preceding World War I. Articles begin by introducing readers to the document’s historical context, followed by a description of the author’s life and circumstances in which the document was written. A document analysis, written by professional writers and historians, guides readers in understanding the key elements of language, rhetoric, and social and political meaning that define the significance of the author and document in the context of the time.

Defining Documents in American History: The 1900s provides detailed insight into a large variety of topics, including:

The McKinley Assassination Theodore Roosevelt and the
Roosevelt Corollary

Establishment of the Food & Drug Administration The Panama Canal Zone Acquisition Creation of the U.S. Department of Commerce & Labor The San Francisco Earthquake Admiral Peary’s Successful Journey to the North Pole

. This collection will introduce students and educators to a diverse range of genres, including journals, letters, speeches, government legislation, and court opinions. Documents represent the diversity of ideas and contexts that define social, political and cultural subjects throughout American history. An historical timeline and a bibliography of related supplemental reading are also included.