An in-depth examination of the explosive changes in the world of American life and culture during the period 1900-1910. The years 1900-1910 have been thought of as the "quiet decade," but as this in-depth examination of the culture of the decade shows, they were anything but quiet. Spurred on by the energy and progressive attitude of President Theodore Roosevelt, and the explosive population growth that brought millions of immigrants to our cities, the decade wrought great cultural and technological changes in American life. A healthy economy gave workers more spending money and leisure time to enjoy hobbies, travel, and entertainment including the newest form of entertainment, the movies. Grounding the cultural developments in the social and historical context of the time, this work provides an exciting picture of American life in the first decade of the 20th century. More than 40 photographs and illustrations from the time illuminate the text.
Covered are innovations in technology, such as the airplane and the automobile, which later revolutionized American life; the coming of age of "modern" architecture; the proliferation of advertising to reach the new middle class; the fads, games, sports, and hobbies of the age; changes in fashion and cuisine; and the burgeoning of the arts--the school of realism and naturalism in literature, the first truly American music, jazz, and the new performing art that played to American tastes, vaudeville. A wealth of facts, information, and interesting sidelights not available elsewhere makes this work a treasure trove for students and interested readers.