Historic Documents of 2002 is Volume 31 in the celebrated Historic Documents series that has made primary source research easy for historians, researchers, students, and others while also highlighting and explaining important events of the year. The volume includes more than 80 important documents issued during the year, each preceded by a unique introductory essay that explains the background, history, and context of the document and the associated events that made history. No other documentary source provides a user with as understandable and detailed information as is found in the Historic Documents introductions.
The 2002 edition includes important material flowing from the U.S. government's declaration of a global fight against terrorism and the efforts to establish a new homeland security system and a federal government department. Also included is the Bush administration's effort to set a dramatically different foreign policy. In addition, the volume includes important material on health care developments, federal budgetary woes, and the important 2002 mid-term elections.
Documents are tightly edited, arranged chronologically and include Web addresses in most cases for readers who need the full text. Readers will find easy access to material through a detailed table of contents and a cumulative five-year index that directs a person to related material in earlier volumes.