In each chapter, Starr begins with a specific event from that year and proceeds to connect it to the war and other issues affecting California. It always touches on the theme of the impact war has on economic, political and social issues in California life. Furthermore, the author wanted to show the economic, political and social effects of the war. The chapters of Embattled Dreams are organized in this way: Kevin Starr begins by introducing the year the chapter will be about, then continues by talking about the facts regarding the war, for example the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, which is the reason why the America formally enters the war - and how Japan was connected to California before it was a factor in the war, "And furthermore: Pearl Harbor had struck the deepest possible chord in California's collective psyche" (Embattled Dreams pg. 36). In other words, in each chapter an event or theme is chosen that relates to the thesis, the chapter is then wrapped around this theme or event. Kevin Starr's thesis runs through each chapter showing how hypothetical "new" developments have already developed in California, but war is the catalyst for it all. Create the perfect combination in each chapter, weaving each event together. In the first chapter of Embattled Dreams, Starr talks about America's very strong voice regarding its feelings about the war. He goes on to talk about Roosevelt's plan to make the United States an arsenal of democracy, as he made an agreement to supply weapons to democratic countries involved in war. Each chapter touches on Hollywood and its social perspective, the politics and political figures that emerge in a given year, and the economic impact war has on