A comprehensive account of American history from the colonial period to the early twentieth century, narrated by contemporaries who witnessed and participated in the events. The book features journals, letters, speeches, and other primary sources, providing multiple perspectives on key historical events and figures. This volume covers the period from the Civil War to the Progressive Era, including topics such as Reconstruction, westward expansion, and the rise of industrialization.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.