David McCullough is quoted as once stating that no harms done to history by making it something someone would want to read.

By calling the time period following the end of the Civil War in 1865 until the start of World War I in 1914 the Forgotten Era, McCullough is doing just that. This period marks the most important and unforgettable timeframe in America. The birth of an industrialized superpower and the introduction of the automobile are two effects of this era still felt in the world today. For David McCullough to refer as this revolutionary time in history which changed the fabric of existence in America forgotten is sensationalism in history. The industrial revolution constituted one of those rare occasions in history when the human species altered its framework of existence (Stearns 6). In the period between 1865 until 1913, America experienced a second industrial revolution which poised it as the worlds industrial superpower. It was Americas unique landscape across the nation which allowed for this boom to occur in both agriculture and industrial goods. Land was commonly available, and labor was constantly flowing into the U.S. due to the influx of immigrants from other countries. This rise in industrialization is taught within this history course with the emphasis that the second industrial revolution expanded upon the first industrial revolution by taking advantage of new technologies. The advent of the automobile in the U.S. unofficially marks the start of what is referred to as the Progressive Era in many history books. The automobile was a natural tool in an increasingly industrialized nation and allowed for the faster transport of goods to rural areas not serviced by the railroads. It was a major innovation which allowed many to return to prosperity after the Civil War and industrial boom. The return to prosperity gave Progressive Americans the opportunity to readjust societyIt was this plenty which

provided the financial means and the confidence necessary for farmers to buy automobiles (Ling 17). Today, America is still the leading industrialized nation of the world with an economy that affects that of the world. Were it not for the boom of the second industrial revolution this statement could not be possible, and it is very difficult to forget the history of why America is in this position. The morning commute on the beltway is a reminder of Americas role of shaping the automobile industry and how the convenience of that time is still felt today. For these two major reasons apparent in the American society it is very difficult to agree with McCulloughs penning of this time period as a Forgotten Era.

Works Cited Ling, Peter J. America and the Automobile: Technology, Reform, and Social Change. Manchester, UK: Manchester UP, 1990. Print. McCullough, By David. "David McCullough Lecture." National Endowment for the Humanities. Web. 08 Nov. 2010. <http://www.neh.gov/whoweare/mccullough/lecture.html>. Stearns, Peter N. The Industrial Revolution in World History. Boulder, CO: Westview, 2007. Print.