Voices of Freedom: A Documentary History

Voices of Freedom: A Documentary History (7th Edition, Volume 1) By Eric Foner, Kathleen DuVal, and Lisa McGirr

This first volume of Voices of Freedom offers a rich collection of primary-source documents that trace the evolving meaning of freedom throughout early American history. Designed as a companion reader for survey courses in U.S. history, it pairs firsthand accounts, letters, speeches, and official records with editorial context that helps readers connect individual voices to the larger currents of the nation's past.

Volume 1 covers the early periods of American history through Reconstruction, presenting diverse perspectives — from colonists and Indigenous peoples to enslaved and free Black Americans, women, and laborers — that together reveal how the idea of "freedom" has been contested and reshaped over time. The striking cover artwork reflects this theme, depicting an early cross-cultural encounter among the many groups whose experiences shaped the American story.

Edited by acclaimed historian Eric Foner alongside Kathleen DuVal and Lisa McGirr, this 7th Edition is a trusted, widely adopted resource for students and instructors alike — an essential supplement for understanding American history through the words of those who lived it.