America in the Gilded Age and Progressive Era

Overview

Witness the transformation of the United States from a war-torn nation to a global leader in this fascinating overview of six profoundly innovative decades. This course explores the Gilded Age (1865-1900) and the Progressive Era (1900-1920), highlighting their impact on contemporary issues.

Course Details

America stands at a dramatic crossroads, characterized by the power of massive corporations, income inequality, and rapid technological change. This course, comprising 24 engaging lectures, examines these critical themes and the historical forces that shaped them. You’ll explore:

• The vast social, political, and economic changes initiated by the Civil War.
• The rise of industrial titans and the emergence of big business.
• The massive waves of immigration that transformed American society.
• Political reform movements in response to corruption and inequality.
• The cultural innovations of the time, including the arts and new technologies.
• The struggles for civil rights and the push toward social justice.

Video Lessons

1. 1865: “Bind up the Nation’s Wounds” (32 min)

• The historical forces shaping the Gilded Age and Progressive Era.

1. The Reconstruction Revolution (30 min)

• Government policies enacted during Reconstruction and their impacts.

1. Buffalo Bill Cody and the Myth of the West (29 min)

• The narrative surrounding the conquest of the American West.

1. Smokestack Nation: The Industrial Titans (30 min)

• The rise of industrial power in America during the late 19th century.

1. Andrew Carnegie: The Self-Made Ideal (30 min)

• The cultural significance of the “self-made man” concept.

1. Big Business: Democracy for Sale? (29 min)

• The tensions between big business, corruption, and reform movements.

1. The New Immigrants: A New America (34 min)

• The impact of immigration on U.S. society during this period.

1. Big Cities: The Underbelly Revealed (31 min)

• Challenges and social issues emerging from rapid urbanization.

1. Popular Culture: Jazz, Modern Art, Movies (30 min)

• The evolution of American culture in arts and entertainment.

1. New Technology: Cars, Electricity, Records (31 min)

• How technological advances reshaped American life.

1. The 1892 Homestead Strike (32 min)

• The rise of labor movements and workers’ struggles.

1. Morals and Manners: Middle-Class Society (29 min)

• The emergence and values of the American middle class.

1. Mrs. Vanderbilt’s Gala Ball (30 min)

• The display of wealth by the new industrial elite.

1. Populist Revolt: The Grangers and Coxey (30 min)

• The rise of the Populist movement and its demands for reform.

1. Rough Riders and the Imperial Dream (31 min)

• The shift from isolationism to imperialism in U.S. foreign policy.

1. No More Corsets: The New Woman (31 min)

• Changes in women’s roles and the suffrage movement.

1. Trust-Busting in the Progressive Era (32 min)

• Progressive reforms aimed at curtailing corporate power.

1. The 1911 Triangle Fire and Reform (30 min)

• The consequences of the Triangle Fire on labor laws.

1. Theodore Roosevelt, Conservationist (29 min)

• The conservation movement and Roosevelt’s contributions.

1. Urban Reform: How The Other Half Lives (30 min)

• The efforts to improve living and working conditions in cities.

1. The 17th Amendment: Democracy Restored (28 min)

• Political reforms that reshaped American democracy.

1. Early Civil Rights: Washington or Du Bois? (29 min)

• Early struggles against racism and the Jim Crow laws.

1. Over There: A World Safe for Democracy (31 min)

• America’s entry into World War I and the political climate.

1. Upheaval and the End of an Era (32 min)

• The national turmoil following World War I and the onset of the Roaring Twenties.