Though not culminating the five-volume series covering from 1673 to 1953, the last to be published. Draws on primary sources to discuss such major topics as the Constitution of 1875, the impact of railroad expansion, the 1904 World Fair, the Populist and Progressive movements, and World War I. Also considers less familiar topics such as the use of convict labor to save taxpayers money, the emergence of women's clubs, the arrival of moving pictures, and the terrible conditions under which coal miners lived and worked. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR