1903 was a seminal but overlooked year in the development of the United States. Through an analytical narrative of 31 historic events, this book examines how these 12 months would prefigure and shape significant transformation in the U.S. for over a century to come.

In the late 19th century, America emerged as an increasingly urbanized and industrialized society connected to an informal global empire. Americans struggled with the fears and divisive issues that were manifestations of the great economic, social, and cultural changes impacting the country. To meet the challenges of change within a quest for defining America’s post-Civil War identity, the American people pursued ideas and promoted movements for creating reform, unity, order, and prosperity. This volume identifies 1903 as a vital moment for capturing America’s pulse as it encountered modernity, exploring the context and consequences of key events including the first successful manned flight in a motorized heavier-than-air machine, the first around-the-world telegraph communication, the first transcontinental automobile trip, the founding of the Ford Motor Company, the nation’s first lone-gunman random mass shooting, the first blockbuster movie, and America’s acquisition of the Panama Canal Zone.

Providing engaging reading for students and scholars of the emergence of Modern America and the Progressive Era, Transforming America in 1903 presents an in-depth depiction of a groundbreaking year.