This book includes primary sources from throughout the colonial period, from the first voyage of Columbus in 1492 to the inauguration of George Washington in 1789. The readings provide a lively and informative look into what life was like for the first settlers (in their own words).

Introduction to the American Heritage American Voices Series vii Introduction to Colonies and Revolution ix PART I: Colonizing a New World 1 Christopher Columbus Signs a Contract 2 From an Agreement between Christopher Columbus and the Rulers of Spain, April 17, 1492 3 Columbus Describes His Voyage 3 From Christopher Columbus's Letter to Lord Raphael Sanchez, March 14, 1493 4 The Mystery of Roanoke 4 From John White's Journals, 1590 5 The Legend of Pocahontas 7 From John Smith's The General History of Virginia, 1624 8 The First Settlements in New England 9 From William Bradford's History of Plymouth Plantation, "The Mayflower Compact," 1620–1647 10 The Survival of Plymouth Plantation 10 From William Bradford's History of Plymouth Plantation, 1620–1647 11 A Difficult Voyage 13 From a German Immigrant's Letter Home, 1750 13 Keeping a Sense of Humor 14 Forefathers' Song, c. 1630 15 Indenture: Encouraging Newcomers 16 Aulkey Hubertse's Indenture Contract, 1710 16 Pennsylvania: Drawing Colonists from the Continent 18 From William Penn's Some Further Account of the Province of Pennsylvania in America, 1683 18 PART II: Daily Life in Colonial America 21 All in a Day's Work 22 From a Girl's Diary, 1775 22 Life in Williamsburg 23 From Andrew Burnaby's Travels . . . , 1759 23 Education and Morals 24 From The New England Primer, c. 1680 25 Washington's Rules for Civil Behavior 26 From George Washington's Rules of Civility & Decent Behaviour, 1747 27 Clothing in the Age of Homespun 27 From Reverend John Schuyler's Journal, c. 1805 28 Wealth and Fashion 29 A Description of Dress, 1710 29 The Salem Witch Trials 30 From the Transcript of the Trial of Sarah Good, 1692 31 Judge Sewall's Apology 32 From Judge Samuel Sewall's Diary, 1696 and 1697 32 Anne Bradstreet: America's First Poet 33 Anne Bradstreet's "To My Dear and Loving Husband," 1678 33 Eliza's Gift to South Carolina 34 From a Letter by Eliza Lucas, 1740 35 Advice on Choosing a Husband 36 From the Royal American Magazine, 1774 36 Advice on Being Feminine 36 From John Winthrop's History of New England, 1645 37 Living Well 37 From the Diary of John Adams, 1775 38 A Girl's Life in Boston 38 From Anna Green Winslow's Diary, 1772 39 Benjamin Franklin: The First American 40 From The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, 1793 41 "What Then Is the American?" 43 From J. Hector St. Jean de Crèvecoeur's Letters from an American Farmer, c. 1782 43 PART III: Many People, Many Voices 45 Slavery on a Virginia Plantation 46 From Philip Vickers Fithian's Journal, 1773 47 A Traveler's View 48 From J. Hector St. Jean de Crevecoeur's Letters from an American Farmer, c. 1782 48 The Nightmare Atlantic Crossing 49 From Equiano's Travels, 1789 49 Growing Opposition to Slavery 50 A Slave's Epitaph, 1773 51 Thomas Jefferson's Dilemma 51 Jefferson's Ad for the Return of a Runaway, 1769 52 From Jefferson's Notes on the State of Virginia, 1784 52 From Jefferson's Letter to Frances Epps, 1787 53 First Encounters with Native Americans 53 From John White's Journals, 1585 54 The Story of a "White Indian" 55 From A Narrative of the Life of Mrs. Mary Jemison, 1824 55 Defending Diversity: Freedom of the Press and Speech 57 From Andrew Hamilton's Speech in the Trial of John Peter Zenger, 1735 59 PART IV: Prelude to Revolution 61 Patriots Protest a New Tax 62 From the Pennsylvania Journal and Weekly Advertiser, October 31, 1765 64 The Stamp Act Congress 65 From The Proceedings of the Congress, October 1765 65 The Beginning of a National Identity 66 From John Dickinson's Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer, 1768 66 The Boston Massacre 67 From John Tudor's Diary, 1770 68 From Captain Thomas Preston's Letter to a Friend, 1770 68 The Boston Tea Party 71 From a Letter by John Andrews, 1773 71 From John Adams's Diary, 1773 72 "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" 72 From Patrick Henry's Speech to the Virginia Assembly, 1775 73 PART V: The American Revolution 75 "One If by Land, Two If by Sea" 76 From Paul Revere's Letter to Dr. Jeremy Belknap, 1798 77 The Battle of Lexington 78 From Ebenezer Munroe's Diary, 1775 78 The Battle of Concord 79 From Thomas Thorp's Journal, 1775 80 Washington Takes Charge 81 From the Military Journal of Dr. James Thacher, 1775 82 From George Washington's Letter to Martha Washington (Patsy), 1775 83 Letter from a Patriot 84 From Elizabeth Bartlett's Letter to a British Officer 84 A Patriot Marching Song 85 From "Yankee Doodle" 85 Deborah Champion's Ride 86 From Deborah Champion's Letter to a Friend, 1775 87 A Black Poet Writes of Freedom 88 From Phillis Wheatley's "To the Earl of Dartmouth . . . ," 1773 89 Declaring Independence 90 From Thomas Paine's Common Sense, 1776 90 Thirteen United States Declare Independence 92 From the Declaration of Independence, 1776 93 "We Must All Hang Together . . ." 95 From Dr. Benjamin Rush's Letter to John Adams, 1811 96 "Remember the Ladies" 97 From Abigail Adams's Letter to John Adams, March 31, 1776 98 From John Adams's Reply, April 14, 1776 99 The American Army and Militia 99 From Private Joseph Martin's Journal, 1776 100 Sergeant Smith's Turkey Prisoners 101 From Sergeant John Smith's Diary, 1776 101 The American Turtle 102 From Sergeant Ezra Lee's Letter to David Humphrey, 1776 102 "The Times That Try Men's Souls" 104 From Thomas Paine's The American Crisis, 1776 104 Washington's Christmas Surprise 105 From Colonel John Fitzgerald's Diary, 1776 105 Winter at Valley Forge 107 From the Diary of Dr. Albigence Waldo, 1777–1778 108 Benedict Arnold: "Treason of the Blackest Dye" 108 From General Nathaniel Greene's Announcement to the Continental Army, September 16, 1780 110 The Turn toward Victory 111 From James Collins's Journal, 1780 111 The Victory at Yorktown 113 From James Thacher's Journal, 1781 114 PART VI: Creating a National Government 115 What Form of Government? 116 From Abigail Adams's Letter to John Adams, 1776 116 Shays' Rebellion 117 From a Farmers' Petition to the State Government, Summer 1786 118 From an Interview in the Massachusetts Centinal, October 25, 1786 118 The Meeting of the Constitutional Convention 119 From Major William Pierce's Notes, 1787 119 Surviving Philadelphia's Summer 121 A French Visitor's Description of Philadelphia in Summer, 1787 122 The Constitution 122 From the Constitution, 1788 123 The Bill of Rights 126 The Bill of Rights, Amendments 1–10, 1791 127 Sources 129 Index 133

Find out what life was like in colonial America from the people who lived it! This first book in the American Heritage American Voices series will give you a rare glimpse into the day-to-day experiences of early Americans. You'll learn from fourteen-year-old George Washington about his Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour (such as "Do not laugh too much or too loud in public."); you'll read the testimony of an accused witch from the Salem witch trials; and you'll hear about the terrible conditions African slaves suffered when they were brought to America, from one of the slaves who survived. You’ll also find out about what led up to the Boston Tea Party, what happened to the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and the daring mission of the first submarine (in 1776!). From Columbus's letter describing his first voyage to America to the Constitution of the United States, Colonies and Revolution presents a wealth of period documents, including diaries, letters, articles, advertisements, speeches, and more, from both famous figures and ordinary citizens. Find out how all of these American voices working together helped to make this country what it is today.