US History: Resources by Decade: 1900s

In the Greenhaven Press "America's Decades" series, one hundred years of American history examined in ten highly informative volumes. Each anthology in the series includes essays chosen for their concise, accessible, and straightforward presentation of the defining events of the decade, in both the domestic and international arenas. Essays that discuss the cultural and technological trends that affected people's everyday lives have also been included, to help students develop their own perspectives on how America and Americans have changed throughout the twentieth century. An introductory essay sets the tone for each time period, while a chronology of events helps students keep track of important dates.

Many of the key issues concerning the United States as we enter the 21st century were already taking shape as we entered the 20th century. Business mergers, U.S. military intervention (in the Philippines), trade disputes with China and Europe, racial violence, high levels of crime, rising income gaps between rich and poor, volatile stock market prices, homelessness in the cities, the dangers of immigration, and the domination of money in elections -- all these major national issues in 1900 are familiar in some form to Americans today. The nation grappled for the first time with a series of complex new challenges: distribution of wealth and economic opportunity; the form race and ethnic relations should take in a country of increasing diversity; the relationship between big business and government; how the United States, as a new world power, should act overseas; and a host of others. Written in a fluid and highly readable style, Kent's ten chapters comprise a colorful narrative history of the major events of this pivotal year that continues to resonate a century later.

Race relations loom large in the history of 20th century America. This five volume set encapsulates this turbulent century, with decade-by-decade coverage taking in all the key events, influential voices, legislation, cultural output and theories of inter-group interaction.