Issues of War and Peace

Since its birth, America has been involved in more than a dozen military conflicts. From the battle of King’s Mountain in the American Revolution to the Persian Gulf War, this resource provides a wealth of primary documents and commentary on pivotal events of war and peace. Expert commentary and the text of 70 primary documents expressing a variety of positions on these issues bring to light the complexities of American military conflicts. Documents include excerpts from speeches, diaries, pamphlets, broadsides, songs, newspaper articles, congressional debates, and government reports.

Among the issues covered are the arguments between Federalists and anti-Federalists over the War of 1812, the debate over westward expansion during the Mexican War, the New York City draft riot in the Civil War, the debate over the Indian Question, the annexation of the Philippines, the Espionage and Sedition Acts of World War I, the decision to drop the bomb on Hiroshima, the recall of General Douglas MacArthur, the My Lai massacre, and the bombing of Iraq. Each entry contains a comprehensive discussion and analysis of the event, followed by the text of 3-8 primary documents presenting a variety of viewpoints by participants in the event. A narrative introduction to the topic, a helpful annotated bibliographic research guide for each event, including recommended web sites and videos, and a timeline of key events will aid the student researcher. This is an ideal resource for student research and class debate.

NANCY GENTILE FORD is Professor of History at Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania. She is the author of Americans All!: Foreign-Born Soldiers in World War I, as well as a number of articles on war and ethnicity, gender, and citizenship.