Science and society in the twentieth century / Wendy R. Sherman and Trish Yourst Koontz.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Sherman, Wendy R., 1968-

Contributor:

Koontz, Trish Yourst.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Science--United States--History--20th century.

Science.

Science--Social aspects--United States--History--20th century.

Science--Social aspects.

History.

United States.

Physical Description:

xvi, 323 pages : illustrations ; 26 cm

Place of Publication:

Westport, Conn. : Greenwood Press, 2004.

Summary:

From the development of radio to the cloning of Dolly the sheep, science has influenced many of the most important events of the 20th century. Understanding the science is essential to understanding this history--but where to get started? This handy reference source provides students, parents, and teachers with the tools needed to understand how the concepts and principles from biology, chemistry, physics, and earth science have affected the social, cultural, and political events of the last one hundred years. Ideal for students preparing research papers in either science or social studies classes, this resource will also help teachers integrate science and social studies topics into the school curriculum.

Contents:

Chapter 1 The Dawn of a New Century 1

Societal Context: Unrest at the Turn of the Century 1

Architecture & Engineering 3

Air-conditioning Improves Our Lives 3

Steel and Construction of the Skyscraper 5

Arts & Entertainment 7

Caruso's Gramophone Recording 7

Communication 9

First Radio Transmission Across the Atlantic 9

Defense & Diplomacy 12

Second International Peace Conference of 1907 (Second Hague Conference) 12

Environment 13

Oil Exploration 13

Food & Agriculture 15

Upton Sinclair's The Jungle 15

Medicine & Health 18

The Royal Disease 18

Transportation 20

Wright Brothers' Flight 20

Model T Ford 23

Human Knowledge 25

Sigmund Freud's Psychoanalysis 26

North Pole Exploration 28

Chapter 2 The Teens 31

Societal Context: Equality, Justice, and War 31

Architecture & Engineering 33

Panama Canal Opens 33

Triangle Shirtwaist Fire 36

Arts & Entertainment 38

Edison's Talking Movies 38

Communication 41

Hello, San Francisco? It's New York Calling 41

Defense & Diplomacy 44

A New Poison 44

Environment 46

National Park Service Founded 46

Food & Agriculture 48

The Prohibition Movement 48

Medicine & Health 51

The Influenza Pandemic of 1918-1919 51

Transportation 55

The Titanic Sinks 55

Human Knowledge 57

The Quantum Atomic Model Is Born 58

Wegener Proposes the Theory of Continental Drift 60

Chapter 3 The Twenties 63

Societal Context: The Roarding Twenties 63

Architecture & Engineering 65

Holland Tunnel Constructed 65

Arts & Entertainment 67

Golden Age of Amusement Parks 67

Communication 70

The Birth of Television 70

Environment 72

The Battle of Blair Mountain 72

Food & Agriculture 76

Mechanical Food Preservation 76

Medicine & Health 78

The Power of Penicillin 78

Transportation 81

Traffic Lights Patented 81

Antifreeze Keeps Motorists Moving 83

Human Knowledge 85

The Tomb of King Tutankhamen 86

Mead Pens Coming of Age in Samoa 88

Big Bang Theory 90

Chapter 4 The Thirties 93

Societal Context: The Great Depression and Government Control 93

Architecture & Engineering 94

The Tennessee Valley Authority Formed 94

Hoover Dam Constructed 95

Arts & Entertainment 97

The "Golden Era" of Radio 97

Electric Guitars Appear on the Musical Scene 99

Communication 101

Signals from Space 101

Defense & Diplomacy 103

Jet Engine Developed 103

Radar Technology Put in Place 104

Environment 106

Concerns over Air Pollution 106

Food & Agriculture 108

The Dust Bowl 108

Medicine & Health 110

Electron Microscope Invented 110

The Eugenics Program 113

Transportation 116

The Hindenburg Crashes 116

Human Knowledge 119

Dobzhansky's Theories of Biology 119

Exploring the Subatomic 120

Chapter 5 The Forties 123

Societal Context: Devastation of Global War 123

Architecture & Engineering 124

Tacoma Narrows Bridge Disaster 124

Arts & Entertainment 128

Fire at the Cocoanut Grove Nightclub 128

Communication 130

Transistors Change the World of Communications 130

Defense & Diplomacy 134

The Manhattan Project 134

Environment 139

Rubber Shortages 139

Food & Agriculture 142

The Green Revolution 142

Medicine & Health 145

The Kinsey Report 145

Dr. Spock's Baby Book 148

Transportation 150

Scuba Gear Opens the Oceans to Amateurs 150

Human Knowledge 154

DNA as Life's Blueprint 154

Chapter 6 The Fifties 157

Societal Context: The Family and Progress 157

Architecture & Engineering 158

St. Lawrence Seaway Constructed 158

Arts & Entertainment 161

Rock-and-Roll Music Moves America's Teenagers 161

Communication 163

Sputnik Changes the Game 163

Defense & Diplomacy 166

Nuclear-powered Submarine Cruises the Depths 166

Environment 169

Bikini Atoll Falls Prey to Nuclear Testing 169

Food & Agriculture 172

The Birth of Fast Food 172

Medicine & Health 176

Polio Vaccine Brings Relief 176

Transportation 180

Highways to Cross the Country 180

Human Knowledge 183

Double Helix Unraveled 184

Chapter 7 The Sixties 189

Societal Context: Pushing the Boundaries of Society 189

Architecture & Engineering 191

Versatile Laser Technology 191

Arts & Entertainment 195

"Beam Me Up, Scotty" 195

Communication 199

Integrated Circuits 199

Defense & Diplomacy 201

Helicopters in Vietnam 201

Environment 204

Alaskan Oil Discovered and Tapped 204

Food & Agriculture 207

Pesticide Use and Silent Spring 207

Medicine & Health 209

Birth Control Pill Approved for Use 209

Transportation 213

Moon Landing 213

Human Knowledge 217

A Mechanism for Continental Drift 217

Chapter 8 The Seventies 221

Societal Context: Crisis Management 221

Architecture & Engineering 223

An Idea for Sustainable Development in California 223

Arts & Entertainment 226

Star Wars and Cinematic Special Effects 226

Communication 228

Microprocessors Invented 228

Defense & Diplomacy 232

Agent Orange Banned in Vietnam 232

Environment 235

Recycling Movement Gains Momentum 235

Food & Agriculture 238

The Controversy over Saccharin 238

Medicine & Health 240

"Test Tube Baby" Is Born 240

Transportation 243

Lessening the Environmental Impact of Automobiles 243

Human Knowledge 246

"Lucy" Fossil Found in Ethiopia 247

Chapter 9 The Eighties 251

Societal Context: The "Me" Decade 251

Architecture & Engineering 253

Restoration of the Statue of Liberty 253

Arts & Entertainment 257

Video Games 257

Communication 260

Fax Machines 260

Defense & Diplomacy 264

Star Wars Missile Defense System 264

Environment 266

Chernobyl Nuclear Reactor Accident 266

Food & Agriculture 269

The African Famine 269

Medicine & Health 272

The AIDS Crisis 272

Transportation 276

Space Transportation System: The Space Shuttle 276

Human Knowledge 280

Cold Fusion and the Nature of Science 280

Chapter 10 The Nineties 285

Societal Context: Learning and Living Democracy 285

Architecture & Engineering 287

International Space Station 287

Arts & Entertainment 290

O. J. Simpson Trial 290

Communication 292

The Internet Connects the Globe 292

Defense & Diplomacy 295

Stealth Fighters in Desert Storm 295

Environment 297

Earth Summit Held in Rio de Janeiro 297

Food & Agriculture 300

Dolly the Sheep Is Introduced to the World 300

Medicine & Health 303

Cigarette Smoking Dangers Admitted 303

Transportation 307

Air Bags Required in Automobiles 307

Human Knowledge 309

Human Genome Project 310.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0313322147

OCLC:

55146235