Primary History

The Massachusetts colony would be the first to organize and unite with other colonies, and one of the first to take a stand when troubles developed with England, thereby leading the cause for independence. It was John Hancock of Massachusetts who would propose the Bill of Rights that still protects and guarantees the basic freedoms of Americans.

World War I, also known in its time as the "Great War" or the "War to End all Wars", was an unprecedented holocaust in terms of its sheer scale. Fought by men who hailed from all corners of the globe, it saw millions of soldiers do battle in brutal assaults of attrition which dragged on for months with little to no respite.

After Sir Walter Raleigh failed in his attempt to found a settlement at Roanoke, a colony on the Chesapeake Bay was successfully established. Primary source materials enhance lively text to give students an in-depth look at what led to the formation and success of the colony of Virginia. No other colony - except Massachusetts - was more influential in the formation of America as a nation.

Georgia: Using primary source documents, this fascinating book traces the history of the colony from its founding to becoming the fourth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution in 1788.

Maryland: This exciting book recounts the history of the colony from its founding to the challenges of the colony's early years, the religious and political upheavals, death, disease, and hard labor endured by the colonists, through the wealthy years of the Maryland tobacco plantations, discontent with England, and finally to Maryland's vote for independence in 1776.

This is a vibrant and fascinating look at the history of the colony of New York. From the discovery of the island of Manhattan and the founding of a tiny Dutch trading village, to New York's emergence as one of the world's most influential cities, the history of the colony of New York is traced through primary source documents.

Using primary source materials to enhance the text, this audiobook tells the provocative story of the Connecticut colony and its first inhabitants. Included are the first constitution and the Fundamental Orders of 1639, which helped to create a representative self-government.

In 1681, King Charles II granted William Penn, a Quaker, sole proprietorship of more than 450,000 acres of land. The colony of Pennsylvania soon offered thousands of European settlers the civil liberties, representative government, and affordable land they wanted.

The earliest settlers in this region were confronted by food shortages, conflicts with native tribes, and the difficulties of settling a new land with little support. Through the use of primary source materials, this audiobook provides the compelling story of the Delaware colony and the conflicts faced by its various leaders, up to and including the early moments of the American Revolutionary period.

Though troubled by violent border disputes with Massachusetts and bloody wars with Native American tribes, New Hampshire was settled by knowledgeable merchants and disgraced ministers. They quickly infused the colony with a spirit of rugged industriousness and defiant individualism that persists to this day. This engaging audiobook details the rise of that spirit as New Hampshire grew.

New Jersey has a fascinating history. The story of New Jersey spans its time as home to a variety of Native American tribes to an area coveted by the Dutch, Swedes, and English, and finally to its modern-day status as the Garden State.

Established on a culture of entrepreneurship as well as religious and political freedom, South Carolina's foundations might be seen as a microcosm of the founding of America. This compelling audiobook provides the background and history of this colony which would become a major factor in the French and Indian War, the American Revolutionary War, and later the Civil War.

Returning to Roanoke in 1590 after a three-year absence, Governor John White was shocked to find all of the colonists gone. This book examines the Lost Colony of Roanoke from its 1584 exploration, to the failed first settlement, to the mystery of the 1587 colony. Several of White's drawings are included.

North Carolina attracted settlers from Europe as well as from other American colonies. In this volume, learn about the resulting troubled relations with the Native Americans in that area, Bluebeard's piracy, and the colonist's rebellion against England.

This audiobook traces the history of Rhode Island from Roger Williams' exodus from the Massachusetts colony, thus creating a settlement - the colony of Rhode Island - where people could live in harmony and worship as they pleased. Using primary source documents to enhance a lively and accessible text, it is a vivid account of the story behind the foundation of this colony - and the independent spirit of those who settled there.