Watch America in the Gilded Age and Progressive Era

2015
1 Season

America in the Gilded Age and Progressive Era is an informative and educational course from The Great Courses Signature Collection that is hosted and presented by historian Edward T. O'Donnell from the College of the Holy Cross. This thoroughly researched series comprises 36 insightful lectures that delve into the transformative period in American history, from the post-Civil War years to the early 20th century.

Edward T. O'Donnell leads the viewers on a lively and engaging journey through the critical events, personalities, and profound social, cultural, and political changes that shaped America during this time. The lectures are carefully designed to provide comprehensive coverage of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era, making the course ideal for anyone seeking a foundational understanding of this era or already knowledgeable about it.

The course is divided into two parts, starting with the Gilded Age, a period characterized by vast wealth and inequality, political corruption, and intense industrialization. O'Donnell explores the Gilded Age's cultural milieu, examining art, literature, and the press. Moreover, the course looks into the complex economic and political changes that have been instrumental in shaping the Gilded Age. The presentation provides an inside look at the relationships between large corporations and the federal government and how they have managed to tilt the economic balance in their favor.

The second part of the course covers the Progressive Era, where Edward T. O'Donnell looks at the sweeping changes that shaped America in the early 20th century. The Progressive Era was an era defined by progressive reforms that aimed at balancing the power of corporations and extending democracy to more people. This period reflects the reforms that have been forced under events such as rapid industrialization, immigration, and urbanization, all of which led to rising social unrest.

O'Donnell examines a wide range of issues that defined this period, from women's suffrage and civil rights to reforms in labor laws, social welfare, and environmental conservation. He also discusses the rise of social movements such as Populism, Progressivism, and the Socialist Party, and how they influenced and challenged the democratic system.

The course is structured to foster critical thinking and reflection, which is evident in how Edward T. O'Donnell trends carefully between different views, bringing in the different historical accounts and accounts of scholars. The course is visually appealing, and O'Donnell goes into great depths to create vivid images of the time and breathing life into the historical events and personalities.

In conclusion, America in the Gilded Age and Progressive Era is an engaging and informative course that provides an in-depth understanding of the United States history between the Civil War and the early 20th century. Edward T. O'Donnell's knowledgeable presentation is supported by extensive research that brings to life the people, events, and ideological transformations of this period in US history. Whether you're interested in history or want to deepen your knowledge of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era, this course is a must-watch.

America in the Gilded Age and Progressive Era is a series that ran for 1 seasons (24 episodes) between May 1, 2015 and on The Great Courses Signature Collection

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Seasons

24. Upheaval and the End of an Era

May 1, 2015

Finally, take account of the period of national turmoil that followed World War I. Study the wave of labor strikes, anti-radical hysteria, and race riots of the early post-war years. Grasp the economic, political, and social factors that gave way to a climate of renewed isolationism and conservatism during the Roaring 20s.

23. Over There: A World Safe for Democracy

May 1, 2015

As the Progressive Era ends, follow the complex events that led the United States into World War I. Learn how an initial federal policy of neutrality changed to one of "preparedness" and then intervention, amid conflicting public sentiments and government pro-war propaganda. Also trace the after-effects of the war on U.S. foreign policy.

22. Early Civil Rights: Washington or Du Bois?

May 1, 2015

Discover how African Americans fought racism and violence in the early 20th century. Study the system of white supremacy called Jim Crow, and its economic, social, and political oppression. Review significant civil rights activism and legal victories that laid the groundwork for the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s.

21. The 17th Amendment: Democracy Restored

May 1, 2015

Sweeping progressive reforms changed the face of American politics. Observe how initiatives at the city level began the eventual transformation of urban political machines into players in political reform. Examine major political reforms at the state and federal levels, culminating in the civil service system, popularly elected senators, and voting rights for women.

20. Urban Reform: How the Other Half Lives

May 1, 2015

Study how progressive reformers responded to the troubles of big cities through urban planning, new thinking about poverty, and the establishment of "settlement houses" and social work to aid the urban poor. Also learn about activism to address alcohol abuse and prostitution, as well as governmental actions to reform housing, urban sanitation, and public health.

19. Theodore Roosevelt, Conservationist

May 1, 2015

Trace the origins of the conservation movement in the 19th century, and its early initiatives to establish federal protection of wilderness in the face of staunch opposition from commercial interests. Grasp the astonishing conservation record of President Theodore Roosevelt, whose efforts created a wide spectrum of national parks, wildlife preserves, and national forests.

18. The 1911 Triangle Fire and Reform

May 1, 2015

Learn about reformers' efforts to address the miserable living and working conditions of industrial workers, and new labor laws that followed the galvanizing events of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire and the Bread and Roses Strike. Also study the movements to eradicate child labor and to federally regulate food and medicines.

17. Trust-Busting in the Progressive Era

May 1, 2015

Witness how the Progressive movement took shape in the late 19th century, fueled by alarm over the unbridled power of large corporations. Grasp the era's new definition of American economic freedom, and examine actions taken under presidents Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson to dismantle railroad, meatpacking, and oil trusts, and to reform banking and taxation.

16. No More Corsets: The New Woman

May 1, 2015

The lives of American women changed in far-reaching ways during the Gilded Age and Progressive Era. Trace late-19th-century social trends that led to more public roles for women and emerging ideas of women's rights. Learn about the women's suffrage movement and its embattled crusade to gain voting rights for women.

15. Rough Riders and the Imperial Dream

May 1, 2015

Delve into the complex process by which the U.S. reversed its longstanding policy of isolationism to become actively involved in global affairs. Investigate the core ideas that built a case for American internationalism, as they manifested in the events of the Spanish-American War and the building of the Panama Canal.

14. Populist Revolt: The Grangers and Coxey

May 1, 2015

Follow the dramatic rise of the Populist movement, which aimed to address broad economic suffering. In particular, study the phenomenon of the People's Party, a political party that demanded major governmental changes to curb injustice and oppression, lighting a fire that lived on in the reforms of the Progressive Era.

13. Mrs. Vanderbilt's Gala Ball

May 1, 2015

Take the measure of the new breed of multimillionaire industrialists that emerged in the Gilded Age as a visible public presence. Contrast the earlier American mindset of republican simplicity with the new rich who displayed and flaunted their wealth through vast estates and European-style aristocratic living.

12. Morals and Manners: Middle-Class Society

May 1, 2015

Discover how the American middle class was a direct product of industrialization and the new employment categories it created. Investigate the key features of the new middle class lifestyle, encompassing suburban living, consumption, and leisure. Also identify defining middle-class values, from respectability and manners to personal hygiene and the "cult of domesticity."

11. The 1892 Homestead Strike

May 1, 2015

Travel into the world of American workers, and view the poignant social problems that accompanied industrialization. Learn how technological changes in industry affected living conditions for workers, and follow the rise of labor movements, violent strikes, and intense conflict between labor unions and management.

10. New Technology: Cars, Electricity, Records

May 1, 2015

Technological changes in late 19th-century America radically changed the country and the world. Track the evolution of electrical power, and the impact of both electric lighting and electrified machinery. Grasp the economic and social changes brought about by the automobile and the cultural effects of recorded music as big business.

9. Popular Culture: Jazz, Modern Art, Movies

May 1, 2015

Take a wide-ranging look at the transformation of American art and entertainment during the Gilded Age and Progressive Era. Chart the accomplishments of the Ashcan School of painting and realist fiction. Witness the birth of ragtime, blues, and jazz, and the rise of spectator sports, stage entertainment, and the new medium of film.

8. Big Cities: The Underbelly Revealed

May 1, 2015

The huge growth of cities was a hallmark of the Gilded Age. Study the forces leading to massive urbanization, such as industrialization, migration and immigration, and revolutionary technologies. Then track the serious social problems that resulted, from crime and disease to political corruption, which spurred intense scrutiny from reformers.

7. The New Immigrants: A New America

May 1, 2015

Here, learn how widespread immigration during the Gilded Age and Progressive Era transformed U.S. society. Delve into the diverse factors underlying immigration, and the perceived threats and social problems posed by immigrants. Observe how society at large reacted to the influx, and grasp the ways in which immigrants fundamentally changed the nation.

6. Big Business: Democracy for Sale?

May 1, 2015

In the late Gilded Age there was wide agreement that troubling trends threatened the young republic. Explore rising public anxiety over the power of big business and the era's economic inequality, governmental corruption, and violent conflict between labor and capital. Take account of how business leaders responded to critics and reformers.

5. Andrew Carnegie: The Self-Made Ideal

May 1, 2015

This lecture examines the notion of the "self-made man" as it pervaded Gilded Age America. Investigate why this idea took on unprecedented popularity in the 19th century, how it was strongly promoted by figures from Horatio Alger to Andrew Carnegie, and explore how the ideal became entwined with social Darwinism.

4. Smokestack Nation: The Industrial Titans

May 1, 2015

Trace the process by which the U.S. rose from developing nation status in 1865 to become the world's greatest industrial power by 1900. Study the unfolding of the American industrial revolution; the advent of big business in the railroad, steel, and oil industries; and the concurrent explosion of consumerism and advertising.

3. Buffalo Bill Cody and the Myth of the West

May 1, 2015

Examine the complex and fascinating story of the conquest of the American West. First, assess key myths surrounding the West and how it was settled. Explore the motives and realities of westward migration, the components of the western economy, and the conflicts with Native Americans that led to violence and tragedy.

2. The Reconstruction Revolution

May 1, 2015

The era of Reconstruction following the Civil War was a turbulent and divisive period in American life. Learn about governmental policies and legislation that were enacted to safeguard the welfare of former slaves and average citizens, and how these policies were then progressively dismantled, ultimately returning the South to white-dominated rule.

1. 1865:

May 1, 2015

Begin to investigate the key historical forces that characterized the Gilded Age and the Progressive Era, and the competing ideals that defined these eras. As a starting point, take account of the U.S. in 1865, and the extraordinary social, political, and economic changes unleashed by the devastation of the Civil War.

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Where to Watch America in the Gilded Age and Progressive Era

America in the Gilded Age and Progressive Era is available for streaming on the The Great Courses Signature Collection website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch America in the Gilded Age and Progressive Era on demand at Apple TV Channels, Amazon Prime, Amazon and Hoopla.