Who is Americans in the First Half of the Twentieth Century from Bowling Alone and what is their importance?

Putnam argues that Americans in the first half of the twentieth century were more engaged in civic affairs than individuals in the second half of the century. In the last section of the book, he discusses the Gilded Age and the Progressive Era of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. These individuals also faced great social change and innovation, as well as a decline in social capital. They responded by creating new clubs, organizations, and groups to provide the social capital that society needed. Putnam argues that these individuals should provide an example for people today to follow in curing the decline in social capital that is occurring now.