A Fierce Discontent: Summary

A Fierce Discontent is a book by Michael McGerr, a history professor at Indiana University. It talks about the time in American history from 1901 to 1921 when a lot of stuff was changing socially and politically. McGerr says people were feeling kinda uneasy and unhappy because things were different from before.

America's Rapid Growth

Back then, America was growing fast with more factories and cities. People started a movement called progressivism to make things fairer and change how the government worked. McGerr thinks all these changes made people feel out of place and not happy with how things were going.

Labor Struggles

The book talks about how people were not happy with their jobs because they were dangerous and not fair. They started forming unions and going on strike to show they were not okay with how things were. It wasn't just about money, but also about feeling like things weren't right in society.

Women's Suffrage

McGerr also talks about how women wanted to vote and be part of making decisions. They fought hard for it, even though many people didn't agree. Eventually, in 1920, they won the right to vote with the 19th Amendment.

The Temperance Movement

The temperance movement was another big deal back then. People wanted to stop drinking alcohol to bring order to society. This movement was part of the progressive ideas that were getting popular in politics at the time. In 1919, they passed the 18th Amendment to stop alcohol.

Conclusion

In the end, A Fierce Discontent tells us about all the changes and problems in America from 1901 to 1921. McGerr shows us how people were feeling uneasy and not happy with how things were going. By looking at labor strikes, women's suffrage, and the temperance movement, he gives us a detailed look at what was happening in American society during this time.

Overall, A Fierce Discontent is a good book that helps us understand American history better. It still makes us think about how things were back then and how they are now.