Major Events and Daily Lives

The carefully curated selections in Major Events and Daily Lives: Readings on United States History Since 1865 introduce students to fresh, new perspectives on history and major historical events by exploring everyday issues that have impacted the American people's daily lives. The high-interest readings address familiar and relatable topics, yet still shed light on the events, culture, and consciousness of times past. These topics include a history of working-class meals at the turn of the 20th century, the advent of bicycles in urban areas in the 1890s, the popular music of World War II, advertising in the Golden Age of radio, style and self-presentation during the social tumult of the 1960s and 1970s, and the invention of mass-produced baby food. These windows into the lives of average Americans enhance readers' understanding of not only the effects of history, but the part each of us plays in making it. Enjoyable and informative, Major Events and Daily Lives shows the power of often overlooked details in the historical story. The book is an ideal supplemental reader for courses in post-Civil War American history and society.