Includes bibliographical references (p. 263-266) and index.

Acknowledgments -- Eyewitness history series -- Preface -- Challenge of reconstruction : 1865-1867 -- Economic opportunity and trade unionism : 1868-1870 -- Urban growth, national scandal and economic panic : 1871-1873 -- Consequences of economic instability : 1874-1875 -- Compromise politics and labor unrest : 1876-1877 -- Monetary policies reviewed and revised : 1878-1879 -- Populism, assassination and material culture : 1880-1881 -- Impact of education : 1882-1883 -- Third-party politics and labor unrest : 1884-1885 -- Reform impulses and labor difficulties : 1886-1887 -- Changing American landscape : 1888-1889 -- Reform, anti-trust legislation and expansionism : 1890-1891 -- Strikes, imperialist policy and the populist voice : 1892-1893 -- Labor unrest and union activity : 1894-1895 -- Republican victory and the push for world power : 1896-1897 -- War, peace and economic stability : 1898-1899 -- Election, assassination and the new century : 1900-1901.