In the second half of the 19th century, America transformed itself into an industrial power, ready to assume a dominant position on the world scene in the 20th century. The development of industrialization and the consumer society brought about opportunities for many Americans as part of an ever-growing middle class, but also resulted in environmental and social degradation that we continue to deal with at the present time.
Biographies
includes entries on various notables, including Andrew Carnegie, J.P. Morgan, Jay Gould, Jane Addams and others.