The 100 Most Significant Events in American Business: An Encyclopedia

Front Cover
ABC-CLIO, May 4, 2012 - Business & Economics - 323 pages

This reference book details the top 100 groundbreaking events in the history of American business, featuring case studies of successful companies who challenged traditional operating paradigms, historical perspectives on labor laws, management practices, and economic climates, and an examination of the impact of these influences on today's business practices.

Throughout history, important commercial developments in the United States have made it possible for American companies to leverage tough economic conditions to survive—even thrive in a volatile marketplace. This reference book examines the top 100 groundbreaking events in the history of American business and illustrates their influence on the labor laws, business practices, and management methodologies of corporate America today.

The 100 Most Significant Events in American Business: An Encyclopedia depicts the chronological order of events contributing to the evolution of American business, with an emphasis on the commercial innovations of each period. The book explores the origins of successful brands, including Apple, Wal-Mart, and Heinz; demonstrates the successful collaboration between public and private sectors illustrated by the Erie Canal, Hoover Dam, and the interstate highway system; and depicts the commercial impact of major economic events from the Panic of 1857 to the Great Recession of 2010.

  • Chronology of key events in the history of American business from 1630 to the present
  • Helpful sidebars of the evolution of key terms used today
  • Comprehensive index includes category, company names, personal names, and cross references to other events
  • Suggestions for further reading for each article
  • 10 relevant charts and tables
  • Appendix of relevant sources
  • 80 key primary documents supporting major events in American business

About the author (2012)

Quentin R. Skrabec, Jr., PhD, is professor of business and operations management at the University of Findlay, OH.

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