From abolition and woman suffrage, to civil rights and the minimum wage, to the campaigns for clean air and clean water, stuggles to mobilise groups to improve society and promote justice are among the enduring themes of American history. Whether one is studying economics, labor, government, politics, current events, or global issues, it is impossible to understand the nineteenth and twentieth centuries without understanding the role of social movements in the United States.

This four volume set examines every significant social movement in American history, covering each movement's goals, tactics, and impact, as well as its successes and failures. The set also examines the interrelationships among different movements, and how they shaped American politics, culture, and society. Written for readers at all levels, and geared directly to the high school social studies curriculum, Encyclopedia of American Social Movements provides biographical portraits of all the key figures and leaders of the nation's social movements and also includes a wide variety of original documents.