Defining Documents offers a broad range of historical documents on important authors and subjects in American history, with primary source documents, in-depth analysis, and comprehensive lesson plans. This important resource provides readers with many new ways to explore the 1930s in American history, as the country was immersed in the Great Depression. The text provides in-depth analysis of forty primary source documents to deliver a thorough examination of this important time in American history. The 1930s offers in-depth critical analysis of 40 primary source documents. Articles begin by introducing readers to the historical context, followed by a description of the author's life and circumstances in which the document was written. A document analysis, written by professional writers and historians, guides readers in understanding key elements of language, rhetoric, and social and political meaning that define the significance of the author and document in American history. Defining Documents in American History: The 1930s provides detailed analysis of a wide array of subjects important to the study of this pivotal time period in American history, including: The Great Depression; New Deal Programs; Economic Downturn & Bank Failures; Dust Bowl Conditions; The Repeal of Prohibition. This collection will introduce students and educators to a diverse range of genres, including journals, letters, speeches, government legislation, and court opinions. Documents represent the diversity of ideas and contexts that define social, political and cultural subjects throughout American history. - Publisher.