American Eras: Primary Sources is a fascinating, student-friendly reference that's patterned after Gale's award-winning American Decades: Primary Sources series. Like its predecessor, each volume of American Eras: Primary Sources offers full or excerpted primary sources representing a diversity of views that provide insight into the seminal issues, themes, movements, and events from each era. Also included are concise contextual information, notes about the author, further resources, and full color photos and illustrations. The following eras are covered: Early American Civilization, Exploration to 1600; The Colonial Era (1600-1754); Revolutionary Era (1754-1783); Development of a Nation, (1783-1815); Reform Era & Eastern U.S. Development (1815-1850); Westward Expansion (1800-1860); Civil War and Reconstruction (1860-1878); and Development of the Industrial United States (1878-1899). The primary sources fall into the following categories: the arts, business and the economy, communications, education, fashion and leisure, government and politics, law and justice, lifestyles and social trends, health, religion, science, medicine, and technology. Providing unique perspectives and a wealth of understanding are oral histories, songs, speeches, advertisements, letters, laws, legal decisions, newspaper articles, cartoons, and recipes.