Review of 1898 The Birth of the American Century by David Traxel
In 1898: The Birth of the American Century, author David Traxel tells what made the year 1898 so significant in American history. ... Traxel gives life to issues in the nation, that ultimately encompass the world, bringing them down to a personal level with the figures involved. ... Traxel effectively starts his story with the New Year’s Eve celebration of 1898 in New York City. ... When midnight and 1898 came, there was even more celebration than before. ... Traxel writes of the bars being a “haven” for workers, because of the changes in technology and of big capital money. ... However, through all of the diversity and contrast, Traxel tells of the patriotism in the country. ... Traxel wrote with praise of Thomas Edison. The year of 1898 was one of great technological progress, of which Edison was a part. Edison had made improvements on the telegraph in his younger years, and he had his own laboratories by 1898. ... Henry Ford, becoming interested in mechanics at a young age, had developed a number of gasoline-powered “horseless carriages” by 1898. ... With all of the inventions and politics, and the concentration on accumulation of wealth and in self-interests, Traxel sets the view for the coming events of that year. ... Traxel chronicles in detail other events of the year 1898. ... The Spanish-American War changed America as a nation, and it changed its place in the world.