Constructing the American Past: A Sourcebook of a People's History , Ninth Edition, presents an innovative combination of case studies and primary source documents that allow students to discover, analyze, and construct history from the actors' perspective. Beginning with Christopher Columbus and his interaction with the Spanish crown in 1492, and ending in the Reconstruction-era United States, Constructing the American Past provides eyewitness accounts of historical events, legal documents that helped shape the lives of citizens, and excerpts from diaries that show history through an intimate perspective. The authors expand upon past scholarship and include new material regarding gender, race, and immigration in order to provide a more complete picture of the past. " Constructing the American Past has a nice mix of topics, including standard political history as well as social history. The authors do a good job of including a variety of voices in each chapter." -- Harold Aurand Jr., Penn State University - Schuylkill Campus "The introductory sections are extremely digestible and, in the right setting, can be relied on as a traditional textbook replacement to make more room for actual primary source analysis. I would add that the thoughtfulness of the source selection is superior to the vast majority of primary source readers currently on the market." -- Sean Dinces, Long Beach City College "The section on modern immigration is a fantastic addition. My students are often first-generation immigrants and would love to know more about this element of history." -- Amanda Bellows, Hunter College Elliott J. Gorn - Joseph A. Gagliano Chair in American Urban History, Loyola University, Chicago Susan Schulten - Professor of History, University of Denver Randy Roberts - Distinguished Professor of History, Purdue University