Starting with the settlement of the West, this fourth volume also covers the effects upon American society from Darwinism and Socialism, regulation and the courts, civil service reform, the rise of labor unions, inflation, populism and progressivism, the Spanish-American War, the Panama Canal, World War I, and more.
The book is clear, concise, organized, and readable. However, the author has a clear Laissez-faire deregulatory bias that shines through to an almost comic extent in some places. He spends an inordinate amount of time attacking socialism, and calling every form of government intervention "socialist." But if you take his bias with a grain of salt, the factual information still makes this a worthwhile read
I am tempted to click on the 'this review contains spoilers' button to the left. The spoilers would be that our society is in decline, and the government has been a mess for a very long time. This book covers the period from 1878 to 1928, as noted in the subtitle, and clearly describes the origin and development of troubles in our country, such as the growth of government and the abandonment of moral values. I appreciate Carson's discerning explanation of history, yet I must admit, they are rather soporific at certain times of day!
I'm only putting one of these books, but it really represents the whole series. These books are great for a quick but thorough history of the United States.