The Cold War, the black freedom struggle, Vietnam, the sexual revolution, the conservative backlash, and the war on terrorism are just a few of the events that have shaped the lives of Americans since 1945. This primary document reader enables students to learn about the past through the voices of those who experienced these important events in history firsthand.

Organized chronologically from 1945 to the present and covering both domestic and foreign events, the selections bring together documents and photographs from sources as diverse as presidents, activists, advertisers, and ordinary citizens and provide a rich perspective on the conflicts and issues at the heart of American society over the last 50 years.