Native American Indian women have been the foundation and spirit of their culture for centuries. Their role in the tribal communities not only assumed the more conventional matriarchal responsibilities within the tribe but also spearheaded the collection of materials and construction of homes for all members, an incredible feat especially given their era. The men revered these women as sources of life and fortitude, providing them with a sense of...

Arranged thematically, the 35 documents in this collection tell the story of early American encounters between French Jesuits and Native Americans. The updated introduction to the selections from the Jesuit Relations provides background on the missionaries and the Native Americans in this region and their cohabitation in the seventeenth century.

"Although British colonist William Bradford once called America "a hideous and desolate wilderness," that type of sentiment did not keep colonists and future Americans from pressing westward to discover new lands, new riches, and new perils. In this book, students will learn about famous and lesser-known explorers who traversed the great expanse. Through a variety of primary-source documents, readers will learn how the expansion affected not only...