Free Access to ‘The History of America in 100 Documents’

From 1st-31st July, Adam Matthew will enable free access to ‘American History in 100 Documents’: one-hundred hand-picked documents and associated analysis of their importance from American History, 1493-1945, sourced exclusively from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History in New York.

These primary source documents illustrate some of the key themes of American History during the period covered - African-American History, Women’s History, Native American Indian History, Military History, Religion, Reform Movements, Migration and more – enabling users to uncover key moments in the lives of the characters.

By visiting www.amdigital.co.uk/AH100 during July, visitors may explore examples such as:

• Pierce Butler’s annotated copy of the first draft of the United States Constitution; one of two drafts contained within the first module of the collection

• Hoover’s opinion of the New Deal

• Correspondence between George Washington and Henry Knox, including Washington expressing his reluctance to accept the role of President of the United States; part of the Henry Knox Papers of over 10,000 items relating to the Bostonian’s journey through the Revolutionary and New Nation eras

• A photographic montage of the lawmakers who voted aye for the Thirteenth Amendment, designed by George M. Powell

• A number of fascinating documents showing the aftermath of the creation of the atomic bomb, focusing mainly on the efforts of the scientists involved to control the new technology in the correct way to ensure peace for the future, including the ‘Preliminary Statement of the Association of Manhattan District Scientists’.

Spanning from 1493 until the mid-twentieth century, and particularly strong on the Revolutionary and Civil War periods, American History, 1493-1945 includes over 60,000 letters, diaries, maps, pamphlets, printed books, newspapers and photographs across two modules:

• Module I: Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform, 1493-1859

• Module II: Civil War, Reconstruction and the Modern Era, 1860-1945

The free access period July 1st to 31st provides a great starting point for anyone interested in American history and also serves as a great teaching aid for the AP US History course.

American History, 1493-1945 is available now.