Calvin Coolidge, who served as president from 1923 to 1929, never rated highly in polls. The shy Vermonter, nicknamed "Silent Cal," has long been dismissed as quiet and passive. History has remembered the decade in which he served as a frivolous, extravagant period predating the Great Depression. Now Amity Shlaes shows that the mid-1920s was, in fact, a triumphant period that established our modern way of life: the nation electrified, Americans drove...

"Defining Documents in American History: The 1920s offers in-depth critical analysis of 40 primary source documents important to this uproarious decade in American history. Articles begin by introducing readers to the historical context, followed by a description of the author's life and circumstances in which the document was written. A document analysis, written by professional writers and historians, guides readers in understanding key elements...

Presents the life of Calvin Coolidge, including his childhood, education, employment, and political career.