Biographies profiles figures significant to the era, with coverage of Mark Twain, Upton Sinclair, John D. Rockefeller, Ida B. Wells and many others. Throughout are numerous illustrations and interesting sidebars make it easy to understand the political climate, people and events that shaped the time. In addition to providing further reading suggestions and research and activity ideas, a chronology framing events in the wider context, words to know section for additional clarification, and a subject index making it easy to locate target information.