Describes how inventions such as the cotton gin transformed America from an agricultural country to an industrial one, and led to both problems and opportunities.
Uses the experiences of two individuals, Ada "Bricktop" Smith and Joe Jones, to present the story of the Great Migration of Southern Blacks to northern cities from the late 1800s to the years after World War I.
Discusses the reasons people migrated West, the routes they took, some of the difficulties faced by pioneers, the different ethnic and cultural backgrounds of the settlers, and the building of homes and towns.
Provides information about the Dust Bowl of the 1930s which occurred when the U.S. was stricken by a drought that caused devastating dust storms, primarily in the middle of the country. Includes primary source quotes, comments, and photographs.
