The story of this one remarkable year will air as a three-hour documentary on The American Experience in November 1998. In January 1, 1900, as Americans tried to divine the future of the twentieth century, what no one could foresee was that the issues they were dealing with were much the same as those that would face their grandchildren and great-grandchildren in the year 2000. Change had come so fast that there was an almost magical belief in the powers of science and technology. The country had never been more prosperous but the disparity between rich and poor had never been greater. Slavery was dead but racism was growing. The narrative begins New Year's Day in Washington, D.C., as President McKinley shrugs off warnings that his life may be in danger. Never far from the seat of power is Theodore Roosevelt, "the coming American of the twentieth century." Throughout the year, as Crichton details one event after the other--the greatest mine disaster in American history; the banning of a salacious play; an historic election campaign; the Galveston flood; the Harvard-Yale football game; a great labor victory; the emergence of the first billion-dollar corporation--the forces of the future are moving into place.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
Judy Crichton, a documentary producer known for her work with PBS's The American Experience, has written a companion book for a PBS documentary about a momentous year in American history--a book that's just as great a read on its own merits. As the United States entered the 20th century, American manufacturing was conquering the globe, problems with rebels in the Philippines and the Boxer Rebellion in China were vexing, and American scientists were experimenting with therapeutic x-rays even as the automobile and the telephone gradually became commonplace. By the end of 1900, William McKinley would be reelected as president with a new running mate, Theodore Roosevelt, who would himself occupy the White House within a year.
The characters and colossal events of 1900 are presented in a style both laden with facts and dramatically engaging, as Crichton presents a narrative that can rival that of a historical novel. Not only are the major figures--including William Jennings Bryan, J.P. Morgan, and Admiral Dewey--portrayed in full, rich characterizations, common Americans, from doomed miners to a Missouri teenager obsessed with books by the name of Harry Truman, are also vividly depicted. America 1900's account of what the United States was, and what it as about to become, is both a pleasure to read and a welcome illumination of a pivotal time in American history. --Robert McNamara
From Publishers Weekly
In a book meant to accompany November's PBS documentary of the same name, distinguished writer and producer Crichton offers a vivid, beautifully illustrated account of the U.S. at the turn of the century. Crichton views the yearAwhich included the emergence of the first billion-dollar corporation, the flood at Galveston and the election of New York Governor Theodore Roosevelt to the office of vice-president under the doomed William McKinleyAfrom the perspective of a host of eloquent eyewitnesses. These include the struggling young novelist and socialist ideologue Jack London, the would-be poet Carl Sandburg (then a student at Lombard College in Galesburg, Ill.), high school junior Harry Truman (hoping for acceptance at West Point), and the tubercular poet Paul Laurence Dunbar (the darling of white readers who was dubbed "the black Robert Burns" by the press). Through the accounts of these and other participants, Crichton moves through a period in our history when there was great faith in technology, great prosperity and at the same time great (in fact, increasing) disparity between rich and poor. In short, Crichton insightfully reveals 1900Awith all its conflicts, hopes and contradictionsAas a surprisingly accurate reflection of our own bewildering age. Both Crichton's text and numerous images capture the mood of the era and smartly introduce general readers to a key epoch of the American experience. (Nov.) FYI: David Traxel's 1898: The Birth of the American Century (Knopf) was reviewed in Forecasts, April 6.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
You'll definitely want "America: 1900" in your library!,
By A Customer
This review is from: America 1900: The Turning Point (American Experience) (Hardcover)
"America 1900: The Turning Point by Judy Crichton is a fascinating read!! This is NOT "just another history book" for Crichton is a master of detail and research. As she writes about the events and characters that define the year 1900, even the most avid history buff will be amazed by hitherto unknown facts and tidbits.Ms. Crichton writes about the terrible labor strikes of 1900 - among them the chilling story of the underpaid Italian immigrants, who, when trying to get minimum wage raised from $1.35 to $1.50 found themselves facing the NY State militia at Croton Dam. "There are enough soldiers here now to make a lunch out of all the Italians within two miles of the dam" said one Sargent. The description of this and other events is so vivid that I felt I was part of the scene. This was in America??? At Croton Dam??Ms Crichton writes: "On Fifth Avenue, men and women of what was called the leisure class were studying the shops and studying each other. The success of the walk could be measured by the briefest encounter, a meeting of the eyes, the slightest bow of the head."You read of "Great and ostentatious wealth"; of life in the South where 90 percent of black Americans were in some ways "more limited than it had been in the days of slavery." In 1900, Private Carl Sandburg returned from the Spanish-American War and the reader learns that although less than 2000 Americans were killed during the actual fighting, EIGHT THOUSAND died of terrible tropical diseases! I found myself wondering "Where did she find THAT out" and enjoyed turning to the many footnotes for additional information. I got to know President & Mrs. McKinley, Jack London, Theordore Roosevelt much more intimately than when I met them in college, and until this book, I had no idea how remarkable Lou Hoover (Herbert's wife) was. An amazing woman.The book makes familiar and not-so-familiar names and obscure little facts and observations make events come alive. The writing paints as vivid a picture as the rare photographs that accompany the text. I wondered why I hadn't picked up on some of these events over the years in other books, but I have come to realize that Judy Crichton has the uncanny knack for unearthing the unknown or forgotten. Thank Goodness -- it's what makes this such a readable book!!"America 1900" is insightful and thoughtful. It doesn't draw conclusions, but it does make the reader think, and come to their own conclusions. It also makes one realize that the problems of 1900, are very much the problems that exist as we approach the year 2000....I found out quickly that Judy Crichton is the proverbial "fly on the wall" and the book has made the year 1900 come alive. An added bonus is that I have now discovered a great new book that is reasonably priced to give for presents. Definitely put this one on your list.
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
NOW I understand how they felt and how they lived,
By
This review is from: America 1900: The Turning Point (American Experience) (Hardcover)
I've always had a "mental-block" when reading or hearing about history, it just never "seemed real" and was always a series of years and dates and names. I'm 37 years old and this is the FIRST TIME I was "thrown" back to the year 1900, I was absolutely intrigued and fascinated with this book, and I "lived" with the people month by month. It wasn't at all a history book - Judy Crichton brought all the people and events alive for us. On a camping trip this weekend, I just kept telling my friends all the fascinating tidbits of 1900! I just wish she'd write about 1800 & 1700 etc. so I can finally RELATE to that time and people.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Readable, accessible, full of information,
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: America 1900: The Turning Point (American Experience) (Hardcover)
America 1900 is a very vivid portrait of the country & the pivotal changes it was undergoing at that time. Shows both famous folks & little people as very real and living, not as rigid, overdressed Victorians posing for formal portraits in their Sunday best. Packed with facts, but the writing is still smooth and accessible--rare to find both in a history book like this.
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