Written at the 6th-8th grade reading levels, this set presents the social, political, economic, and cultural history of 20th-century America.

This exhaustive compendium of ads from the period - many of which haven't been seen for over eight decades - is a fascinating reminder of surprisingly simpler times and a rediscovery of a forgotten age in advertising history.

The dawn of American consumerism Prohibition made liquor illegal and all the more fun to drink. Speakeasies, luxury cars, women's liberation, bathtub gin and a booming economy kept the country's mood on the up-and-up. Women sheared off their locks and taped their chests, donning flapper dresses and dancing the Charleston until their legs gave out. Gangsters flourished in big cities and gangster movies flourished in Hollywood. It was the roaring twenties in America: a singular time in history, a lull between two world wars and the last gas before the nation's descent into the Great Depression. Forging the way into the future like a modern streamliner in a sea of antiquity, advertising in the 20s sought to bring avant-garde into the mainstream -- which it did with great success.

World War II brought unprecedented pride and prosperity to the American people and nothing better mirrors the new wave of consumerism and progress than the ads of the time.

As McCarthyism swept across the United States and capitalism was king, white America enjoyed a feeling of pride and security that was reflected in advertising.

From forgotten cars such as the Dodge Dart, to cigarettes ("this Christmas give cartons of Luckies") to food (mmm! TV dinners!) And much more, this colorful collection of print ads explores the wide, wonderful world of 60s Americana.

Both eclipsed and influenced by television, American print ads of the 1970s departed from the bold, graphic forms and subtle messages that were typical of their sixties counterparts. More literal, more in-your-face, 70s ads sought to capture the attention of a public accustomed to blaring, to-the-point TV commercials (even VW ads, known for their witty, ironic statements and minimalist designs, lost some of their punch in the 1970s). All was not lost, though; as ads are a sign of the times, racial and ecological awareness crept into everything from cigarette to car advertisements, reminding Americans that everyday products were hip to the modern age. A fascinating study of mass culture dissemination in a post-hippie, television-obsessed nation, this weighty volume delivers an exhaustive and nostalgic overview of 70s advertising.

This exhaustive compendium of ads from the period - many of which haven't been seen since - is a fascinating reminder of surprisingly simpler times and a rediscovery of a forgotten age in advertising history.

A record of life in the USA since the 1900s. It documents the news, entertainment, art, literature, science and technology, sports, and fashion, providing anecdotes, facts and figures, ads and fads, headlines, and memorable quotations - as well as more than a thousand photographs.

The hairstyles, slang terms, advertising jingles, pop music sensations, and all else described as popular culture is covered in this 5-vol. reference. Arranged chronologically by decade and by broad topics within each decade, "Bowling, Beatniks, and Bell-Bottoms" focuses solely on the popular culture of the century, offering more detailed information on trends and fads than any other resource. Written specifically for students in grades 5 through 12, major topics include: products and brands, toys and games, music and dance, holidays, shopping, sports, movements and much more. Also includes approximately 400 photos, a cumulative table of contents, timeline, subject and cumulative general index and trivia sidebars.

Summary holdings: 1938-1978

Volumes cover different decades/topics/era. Some are online.

This is a four-volume reference work containing over 70 original essays by leading scholars in the fields of history and political science. The encyclopaedia is divided into sections on the American people, politics, society and culture, the economy, science, technology and medicine, and global America. Each of the six sections begins with an introductory essay of approximately 2500 words written by the editors.

Throughout the 20th century, America underwent rapid change, from horses and buggies, through two world wars, and finally to the arrival of the Internet. But Americans have always needed time for relaxation and recreation. This book describes how political, economic, and cultural events influenced the history and development of the leisure pursuits of Americans of different races and ethnic backgrounds during the 20th century. Readers learn about the opening of Disney World and the ever-popular auto vacation, as well as the laws, acts, and organizations that allowed leisure time and activities to become a permanent fixture in American culture. Other topics include the significance of the Model T Ford, the development of the 40-hour work week, and the lure of reality television shows. Sections include The Progressive Era and Reformers The War to End All Wars Black Death to Black Tuesday The Great Depression and the New Deal The Good War and the Aftermath Television, Teenagers, and Rock 'n Roll The Jet Age and Turbulence Yuppies, Star Wars, and MTV Generation 'X, ' the Internet, and Virtual Reality Organized chronologically, this book is ideal for high school students, college students, and the general public. It identifies the most popular games, sports, and hobbies of social groups ranging from the working class to the wealthy, along with their importance in American history. Over 51 photos illustrate the different leisure pursuits in their time periods.

In this vibrant, fact-packed romp through the last 100 years,Rediscovering America explores the lost history of America, highlighting and reintegrating the complex contributions of women, African, Asian, Hispanic, and Native Americans, immigrants, artists, renegades, rebels, rogues, and others normally cast to the margins of history books, but without whom there is no honest accounting of American history. In an accessible timeline format, it paints an inclusive picture of our recent past, without sentiment or favor, respecting the true richness and complexity of 100 years in the life of a nation.

A 10 volume set, each volume covers a decade

A 10 volume set, each volume covers a decade

Decade by decade, this resource offers an overview of all aspects of American teenagers' lives from 1900 to 1999, as they evolved through the century. Using a variety of sources from sociological studies to popular magazines, this work shows how teens have responded to the political events that have characterized each decade. It also describes the patterns that have affected their home, work, and school lives, patterns of dating and sex, trends in alcohol and drug use, and teen tastes in books and movies and use of slang and fashions. Seventy illustrations make the personalities, interests, and media of each decade come alive for students of history, literature, and popular culture. "Twentieth-Century Teen Culture by the Decades" chronicles the evolution of teenagers through the bobby-soxers of the 1940s, beatniks of the 1950s, and hippies of the 1960s, to the independent and outspoken teens of the 1990s. With photographs of teens, anecdotal information, and statistics, Rollin pulls together sources on fashion, slang, film, radio, and music. She confirms the great impact that rock music has had on teen life since the late 1940s as it traces the evolution of favorite performers and styles. She summarizes the patterns of youth freedoms and adult fears that resulted in such public efforts as the Senate hearings on juvenile delinquency in the 1950s and the attempts to label rock concerts as dangerous in the 1990s. She also demonstrates that the teen violence that seems to characterize the 1990s is not new. "Twentieth-Century Teen Culture by the Decades" is a must for answering the question of how teens lived during each decade and how each decade has influenced teens' lives today.