The 1900s: The Seeds of Progress
The turn of the century ignites enormous changes, not only for the calendar, but also for society. Milestones include: the industrial revolution and the rise of urban living; massive immigration to the U.S.; the rise of black culture and institutions; the assassination of President McKinley; and the emergence of the U.S. as a global power.
The 1910s: The Modern Age Begins
As technology moves forward and international struggles flare, warfare rises to a new, more murderous level. Milestones include: giant leaps in transportation, telecommunications, oil and steel industries; revolutions in Mexico, Ireland, Russia and Germany; the first World War; women's suffrage movements; and the emergence of nickelodeons and jazz music.
The 1920s: A Decade of Contradictions
'The Roaring Twenties,' as they are known, see a major polarization of people around the world-people who embrace change, and those who fear it. Milestones include: prohibition leads to bootlegging and organized crime; African-American culture accelerates and membership in the KKK reaches an all-time high; Stalin and Mussolini gain power as America turns its back on international affairs; American cities boom while agriculture lags; and big spending and overproduction lead to the stock market crash.
The 1930s: The Great Depression
The stock market crash of 1929 ushers in a severe economic crisis in the United States and contributes to the rise of international tension. Milestones include: U.S. unemployment tops 15 million; drought devastates the Great Plains; FDR implements his 'New Deal'; Americans turn to baseball, radio and movies for entertainment and escapism; and Stalin begins to 'purge' his enemies while Japan and Germany flex their military muscles.
The 1940s: War, Recovery and Rebirth
With Americans still struggling through a severe economic depression, the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor leads the United States into the second global conflict of the century. Milestones include: World War II, the Holocaust and the atomic bomb; women enter the work force in large numbers; Israel declares its independence; the Baby Boom begins; and entertainment shifts to Big Bands, the jitterbug and crooners including Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra.
The 1950s: Promoting the American Dream
The U.S. solidifies its position as a world leader, while on the home front; the 'traditional family' takes center stage. Milestones include: the arms race between the U.S. and U.S.S.R.; Senator Joseph McCarthy's 'witch hunts'; the birth of the Civil Rights movement; the rising influence of television; and Rock 'N Roll and the conservative/religious reaction.
The 1960s: A Global Revolution
Innocence is lost as America struggles on many levels, not only politically and militarily, but also socially. Milestones include: tensions reach the boiling point between the U.S. and Cuba; the assassinations of four political leaders; the Vietnam War, anti-war demonstrations and the Civil Rights movement; the Space Race; and the hippie culture and the British Invasion.
The 1970s: Power Plays
As the Vietnam War comes to an end, the Middle East becomes a powder keg and the Nixon Administration collapses. Milestones include: the fall of Saigon; the Watergate Scandal; Americans taken hostage in Iran; home life changes dramatically with easier access to microwaves, fast food and VCRs; and the Disco Revolution.
The 1980s: A Decade of Decadence
Despite a series of ecological and technical disasters, the booming American economy spawns the catchphrase 'greed is good.' Milestones include: the Challenger and Exxon Valdez disasters; the shootings of President Reagan, Pope John Paul II, and John Lennon; improved relations between the U.S. and U.S.S.R.; the S&L Scandal and the Iran-Contra Affair; and an exploding market for cell phones, PCs and crack cocaine.
The 1990s: America's Hard Drive
The world becomes 'smaller' in an age of instant access, but some find themselves in an age of information overload. Milestones include: the Persian Gulf War fought with computerized weapons; personal computers, beepers, cell phones and fax machines become commonplace; former communist nations make the difficult change to capitalism; shocking rise of violence and terrorism in the U.S.; athletes led by Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire become role models in American culture.
FEATURES and BENEFITS:
- A Comprehensive Documentary Covering 100 Years of Events
- DVD Exclusive Extras: Rare Newsreels from the 1920s - 1970s
- In Color and Archival Black and White
- Extensive Chapter List and Subject by Subject Index
- Genre: History, Documentary
- Disc Number: 2
- Format: High-Tech Double-Sided DVDs
- Language: English
- Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
- Rating: NR
- Running time: Approx. 12.5 hrs
