The 19th century was an era of rapidly accelerating scientific discovery and invention that laid the groundwork for the technological advances of the 20th century as well as important social and political reforms. This 2-volume set offers in-depth analysis of a broad range of historical documents, including legal codes, letters, speeches, constitutions, reports, and books that impacted the world throughout the nineteenth century, from the Napoleonic code to Darwin's Descent of Man.

Readers will find detailed, thought-provoking analysis of:

• Speech on South American Independence (Henry Clay)
• ""Moral Advice to Queen Victoria"" (Lin Zexu)
• Communist Manifesto (Karl Marx and Friederich Engels)
• Address to the Cherokee Nation (John Ross)
• On Liberty (John Stuart Mill)
• Heart of Darkness (Joseph Conrad)
• Each document chapter includes the primary source, often reproduced in its entirety, the Summary Overview, Defining Moment, Author Biography, Document Analysis, and Essential Themes.