"Includes more than 2,700 signed essays ranging from 500 to 2,500 words, written by subject experts and edited to form a consistent, readable, and straightforward reference...

Decade-by-decade coverage of American social history during the 20th century...

"Covers major American conflicts from the Colonial Wars through the War on Terrorism in the context of cultural and social events and conditions on the home front...

Contains 2,500 entries...

Contains "alphabetically arranged entries that focus on the period's scientific, social and cultural history as well as the political, military and economic developments...

"Contains over 800 entries covering all of Europe and the successor states to the former Soviet Union, with an emphasis on politics, governments, organizations, people, and events crucial to an understanding of postwar Europe...

Contains the texts of "key sources as well as a guide to the documents, a path through them and essential data on the role, form and vocabulary of treaties in general...

"Presents 500 entries describing Americans who defined the decade, including politicians, athletes, entertainers, and artists, among many others...