Have welfare reforms been successful in helping America's poor? Are government programs out of touch with modern poverty? Does marriage reduce or complicate poverty? Will raising the minimum wage have a positive impact on closing the wage gap? Supporting Social Studies curriculum, this informative edition tackles the many facets of poverty in America. Readers are presented with a number of essays on the various concerns related to the subject matter. Includes primary and secondary sources from a variety of perspectives; eyewitnesses, scientific journals, government officials, and many others.