A comprehensive resource for those interested in learning about this era, The 1990s chronicles the first decade since the end of World War II to be dominated by a single superpower—the United States—instead of by a cold war rivalry between heavily armed, ideologically antithetical nuclear powers. From the still-evolving "new world order," involving new goals, alliances, and principles, to the changing demographic makeup, values, beliefs, and practices of the United States, this volume explores the many factors that have helped transform America's identity. Some of these evolutions led both to a greater institutional tolerance of cultural diversity and to increased friction caused by competing ways of life. This landmark decade also boasts record population growth. The 1990s provides complete coverage of this exciting era.
The 1990s, a new volume in Facts On File's acclaimed Eyewitness History series, provides hundreds of firsthand accounts of the 1990s—including diary entries, letters, speeches, and newspaper accounts—that illustrate how historical events appeared to those who lived through them. Each chapter provides an introductory essay and a chronology of events. This book also includes critical documents related to this decade, as well as capsule biographies of key figures, 90 black-and-white photographs and illustrations, nine maps and graphs, an index, and a bibliography.

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Excerpted from The 1990s by Richard Alan Schwartz
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