This volume of Americana eBooks has been designed to explore the theme of crisis in US culture and history, showing specific concern with changes generated by critical periods in the country's history. As well as spanning various periods, the chapters encompass a diversity of topics and approaches ranging from historical linguistics through contemporary popular culture and film studies. With few exceptions, they all revolve around the problem of change and transformation - a concomitant effect of crisis - probing into its wider significance in American culture.