America's Historical Newspapers - 1690-2000

Our newest online resource is the America's Historical Newspaper database. This database allows you to search or browse American newspapers published from 1690 to 2000. You can also view the full text newspaper articles using either a timeline or by a topic search. This newspaper resource provides eyewitness accounts during the Revolutionary War, westward expansion, the Civil War, Reconstruction, industrialization, the Progressive Era, World War I, the Great Depression, Vietnam War, World War II, Civil Rights Movement, Cold War, globalization and other eras.

Also included are illustrations, advertisements, classifieds, obituaries, stories about historic people and other articles exactly as they appeared in print.

To access this resource from off campus locations you must be a currently enrolled student or staff member at Southwestern College. You can request a username and password for American's Historical Newspapers by using our Password Request Form at http://www.swccd.edu/~library/Passwordrequest

Issues and Controversies in American History

October's featured cover story is the Iran-Contra Scandal which focuses on the actions of Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North in pursuit of two secret Reagan administration initiatives: weapons sales to Iran in exchange for the release of American hostages in the Middle East; and diverting the proceeds to the "contra" rebel army in Nicaragua seeking to overthrow the leftist government. Was North a criminal, or a scapegoat?

With Issues and Controversies in American History, history comes to life as this database builds a deeper understanding of how historical events have shaped our nation by exploring the key players and the battles they fought.

Visit the library's Articles and Databases website http://www.swccd.edu/~library/articles.htm and select Facts.com Issues and Controversies in American History to use this online resource.

Select the Off Campus Access link for information on how to access this resource from off campus locations.

Constitution Day September 17

On Friday September 17, we celebrate Constitution Day, commemorating the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787 and recognizing all who, born in the U.S. or through naturalization, have become United States citizens. The library has prepared a display on the third floor to highlight books in our collection dealing the subject of the United States constitution. Come and check it out!

How Democratic Is the American Constitution?
Robert A. Dahl
KF 4550 D34 2001
Main Stacks

Creating the Constitution: The Convention of 1787 and the First Congress
Thornton Anderson
KF 4541 A88 1993
Main Stacks

A More Perfect Constitution: 23 Proposals to Revitalize our Constitution and Make America a Fairer Country
Larry J. Sabato
KF 4550 S23 2007
Main Stacks

The U.S. Constitution A to Z
Robert L. Maddex
KF 4548 M33 2002
Main Stacks

The Rehnquist Court and the Constitution
Tinsley E. Yarbrough
KF 8742 Y37 2000
Main Stacks

A People’s History of the Supreme Court: The Men and Women Whose Cases and Decisions Have Shaped Our Constitution
Peter Irons
KF 8742 I763 2006
Main Stacks

The Bill of Rights and Beyond, 1791-1991
KF 4557 B548 1991

Amending America: If We Love the Constitution So Much, Why Do We Keep Trying to Change It?Richard B. Bernstein
KF 4555 B47 1993
Main Stacks

The Court and the Constitution
Archibald Cox
KF 4550 C69
Main Stacks

The Creation of the Constitution: Opposing Viewpoints
JK 113 C74 1995
Main Stacks

A Brilliant Solution: Inventing the American Constitution
Carol Berkin
E 303 B47 2002
Main Stacks

The United States Constitution: A Graphic Adaptation
Jonathan Hennessey
3157 Leisure Reading (Main)



Here are some websites about the United States Constitution

Facts about the Constitution
From the National Archives and Records Administration. Includes high resolution images of the constitution, along with transcripts and articles of explanation
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution.html

Constitution of the United States
From the United States Senate. Includes the original text and an explanation of what each section means.
http://www.senate.gov/civics/constitution_item/constitution.htm

The Interactive Constitution
A nonprofit organization established to increase awareness and understanding of the U.S. Constitution. This Interactive Constitution is based on The Words We Live By: Your Annotated Guide to the Constitution by Linda R. Monk
http://www.constitutioncenter.org/constitution/

Check It Out

As if an Enemy’s Country: The British Occupation of Boston and the Origins of Revolution.
By Richard Archer
E 210 A73 2010

Focusing on the events leading up to the occupation of Boston by British troops and the Boston Massacre, professor of history emeritus, Richard Archer examines the causes of the American Revolution. Threats and clashes between government representatives, British troops, and Bostonians over the Sugar Act, Stamp Act, Townsend Act, and the occupation of Boston mounted, enviably causing the Boston Massacre and forever changing the city socially, economically, and politically. Along with similar feelings and transformations in other colonies and the uncompromising representatives on both sides of the Atlantic, the increasing tension eventually led to the colonists’ declaration for independence.

Although the author assumes the reader has basic knowledge of the era, he gives a concise and very thorough illustration of both sides of the events that occurred. Anyone interested in a detailed account of Boston’s participation in the American Revolution’s roots will find Archer’s work fascinating and informative.
Reviewed by Laura Yee, Library Intern, Southwestern College.

Check out As if an Enemy’s Country: The British Occupation of Boston and the Origins of Revolution, available now in the library.

Internet Resource - History Matters

History Matters: the U.S. Survey Course on the Web http://historymatters.gmu.edu/

This history site serves as a gateway to United States history web resources and offers first-person primary documents, guides to analyzing historical evidence and teaching materials.

The feature called "Many Pasts" contains more than 1,000 primary documents that portray the lives of ordinary people throughout U.S. history. The section WWW.History provides annotated guides with links to other sites that can be useful in research and teaching U.S. History.

The entire website is also searchable. This online resource was created by the American Social History Project at City University of New York and the Center for History and New Media at George Mason University.

For additional history websites view our History Internet Subject Guide webpage

Issues & Controversies in American History

This month's cover story in the Facts.com Issues & Controversies in American History database focuses on some of the hardships facing the settlers of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in America. Did the settlement fail to flourish because of Jamestown’s system of collectivism, which some argue inhibited hard work and self-reliance? Or were other factors, such as a lack of fresh water and several unexpected disasters, to blame?

To read this article and others visit our Articles and Databases webpage http://www.swccd.edu/~library/articles.htm and click on Fact.com Issues & Controversies in American History .Select the Access Off Campus link for information on how to access this resource from off campus locations