Introduction, and Chapter 1, Air Summary and Analysis

Introduction: In the minds of some, the time between the end of the Civil War and the early-1900s are known as "the good old days," years thought of with nostalgia and benignity. Author Otto Bettman wishes to shatter this conception by demonstrating what everyday life was really like for average people. By this examination, Bettman will provide the reader with a fuller and truer understanding of this period in American history, which will in turn demonstrate the large amount of progress our civilization has made.

Chapter 1 - Air: Pollution was little understood in the time after the Civil War. For many it was good sign of industry (and thus commerce and a good economy); for others it was even seen as a curative for ailments.

Air pollutants took many forms. Pigs and horses were...