America in the Gilded Age and Progressive Era

by Edward T. O'Donnell

America stands at a dramatic Massive corporations wield disturbing power. The huge income gap between the one percent and the other 99 percent grows wider. Astounding new technologies are changing American lives.

Sound familiar? These and other issues that characterize the early 21st century were also the hallmarks of the transformative periods known as the Gilded Age (1865-1900) and the Progressive Era (1900-1920). Before the Gilded Age and Progressive Era, America was a developing nation, with a largely agrarian economy and virtually no role in global affairs. Yet by 1900, within 35 years, the US had emerged as the world's greatest industrial power.

Explore these tumultuous times in America in the Gilded Age and Progressive Era. Over decades marked by economic, political, social, and technological upheavals, the US went from an agrarian, isolationist country to the world's greatest industrial power and a nascent geopolitical superpower. In a time rife with staggering excess, social unrest, and strident calls for reform, these and other remarkable events created the country that we know industrialization gave rise to a huge American middle class; voluminous waves of immigration added new material to the "melting pot" of US society; the phenomenon of big business led to the formation of labor unions and the adoption of consumer protections; electricity, cars, and other technologies forever changed the landscape of American life.

In taking the measure of six dramatically innovative decades, you'll investigate the economic, political, and social upheavals that marked these years, as well as the details of daily life and the cultural thinking of the times. In the process, you'll meet robber barons, industrialists, socialites, reformers, inventors, conservationists, women's suffragists, civil rights activists, and passionate progressives, who together forged a new United States.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Audiobook, American History, Economics, Politics, Historical

Audiobook

First published May 1, 2015

About the author

Edward T. O’Donnell is an Associate Professor of History at Holy Cross College in Worcester, MA. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Holy Cross College and his Ph.D. in American History from Columbia University.

Reviews

[Quenby · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really interesting review of times that might feel familiar to us. The battle between the ideals of small government and individual freedom vs the ideals of the common good. It is well written and helps focus in on key people and events and how they affected our political outlook.

[Magen - Inquiring Professional Dog Trainer · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars This wasn't as interesting as I expected it to be nor was it organized the way I expected it. Each chapter is focused on one topic, which provides a clear theme, but also makes it hard to see the era as a whole. I wanted a better sense of the overall progression from the gilded age to the progressive age. I was disappointed it wasn't mapped in the beginning or summed up at the end. Much of this segmented, subject based history I already knew, and some of it in better detail, which was really disappointing since I don't know much about history.

[George Crowder · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first Great Course audiobook which I've scored lower than five stars. This period, and the pendulum swing from rampant domination by big business to a pushback by the citizens to wrest control of the government from the wealthy and powerful, seems to be fundamental to understanding the dynamics of American history. In many ways, it is similar to what is transpiring right now, though I think that the wealthy, powerful, and corporate interests are even more skilled at manipulating the public than in the past, and may well prevent the pendulum from swinging significantly. So what's my complaint? I didn't think the lecturer sufficiently underlined this recurring pattern until the end of the book--too little, too late. The most important themes of the history were somewhat buried int he details.

[Kirsti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent overview of this underappreciated era. I especially liked the parts about Reconstruction, the history of women, technology (cars, records, and radio), and the pre-1954 civil rights movement.

[Steve Rice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a series of lectures detailing the period from the end of the Civil War to the beginning of WWI. This provides a very good understanding of the many changes of enormous magnitude in the US during this time, and the repercussions to American life that continue even today. A good read for anyone wanting a more thorough understanding of this period in history.

[Jennifer Lumsden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this lecture series was quite impressive. It encompassed a wide variety of topics of the time and I thought the lecturer did a great job at summarizing the subject matter. This not necessarily a deep dive into this period, but having limited knowledge of the time (a rather small slice of the pie) I think this was a great starting point. The author did a great job at covering a wide range of historical topics while keeping those presentations within the context of the series.

[Steven Hart · Rating 2 out of 5]

The worst kind of history. Rather than seeking to understand both sides, it picks the best arguments of one side and the worst of the other. Thus, the progressive are forward-thinking heros and the conservatives at best rubes who are stuck in the chains of the past.

2 stars because it still has a few redeeming qualities.

[Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

A major theme from this time in American history is the clash and struggle between big business and "the people." Closely tied to this struggle were the changes to that occurred to views on the role of government. I sum up the shift like this: The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution with the idea in mind of instituting a small government with the checks and balances necessary to protect the people from the government. This view shifted to the government taking on the power to protect the masses from the greed and corruption of big business and the rich.

Hearing these lectures has caused me to think deeply about my views on the role of government. I can't help but feel that unionization and anti-trust legislation was for the greater good when I read about the terrible wages and living condition that many early industrial age workers lived in.

I believe that today, both government and unions have gone too far in their "protection" of the people to the detriment of the Greater Good. But I suppose therein lies the problem. Everyone has a different view of how far is far enough, so the fights and wrangling will never cease.

Hearing these lectures reminded me that America is a great country. The fact that we are having all the current fights about immigration policy is proof to me of that. If America was not great, then people wouldn't want to come here. When more people start leaving the country to live elsewhere than are coming in, then we'll know that America is not great any more.

[Koit · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mr O’Donnell’s scholarship for this work is impressive, no doubt, but I found the presentation complex and illogical. The problem, in some ways, is that even though the age that the author wants to consider only spans a few decades, it was still a time of such unprecedented change in American society that it cannot be done justice topic-by-topic.

The author’s approach sees the listener given a few tantalizing hints at progress here and there, and then the full topic treated some five lectures later or vice versa. While it is my sense that Mr O’Donnell wanted to simplify his subject by sectioning it, the result is that interlinked fields are treated alone, depriving the listener from valuable detail.

Nevertheless, there were many good historical descriptions here—and I appreciated the author’s sense of reverting to primary sources whenever possible. If it were nothing else, this would still serve as a very good starter on where to find more in-depth sources for the innumerable subject fields.

This wasn’t what I expected, but it was a decent history—even if I disagree with its internal logic. It will definitely serve as an okay primer for late 19th and early 20th century US history.

This review was originally posted on my blog.

[Hank Pharis · Rating 3 out of 5]

(NOTE: I'm stingy with stars. For me 2 stars means a good book or a B. 3 stars means a very good book or a B+. 4 stars means an outstanding book or an A {only about 5% of the books I read merit 4 stars}. 5 stars means an all time favorite or an A+ {Only one of 400 or 500 books rates this!).

The great news is that I can listen to a book a day at work. The bad news is that I can’t keep up with decent reviews. So I’m going to give up for now and just rate them. I hope to come back to some of the most significant things I listen to and read them and then post a review.

[Katrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was just the background information I was looking for, in my efforts to immerse myself in the culture of the early 1900s, for the book I just finished writing. And it was gratifying to repeatedly recognize that I had previously interpreted things correctly and written them accurately in my book. I also gained new insights that will help me as I continue writing the second novel. Many thanks to Professor O'Donnell, who gave of his time and talents to make this course available to anyone. He is a master lecturer.

[Sean Cancino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great overview of the Progressive era for people not well educated in the subject. I drew interesting parallels between this time period and modern times, namely the dominance of neo-liberalism in modern times and the more laissez-faire capitalism of that era, the conflicts between workers and big business, anti-immigrant sentiments among the population, the arguments for and against the concept of the "self-made man", etc.

[Marc Audet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This course gave me a better appreciation for two opposing ideologies, progressive/liberal and laisser-faire-individualism/conservative, and how each ideology rises to the forefront and then is superseded by the other in reaction. I was left with an appreciation about the complexity and nuances in the development of our political thought. No matter where you stand in the left/right debate, this course provides a solid overview that will allow you to pursue additional reading and study.

[Georgiana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Assumes a US audience, which is ironic because my only reason for reading this is because I'm NOT in the US and know basically nothing about this period of their history. Also repetitive to the point where I kept thinking I'd accidentally skipped back to previous lectures. I honestly wouldn't have bothered finishing except for really needing at least a basic framework for this chunk of history so I can better understand later stuff. Oh well, maybe it's time to reread The Great Gatsby.

[Ashley Benton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Professor O'Donnell is wonderful in delivering information about the Gilded Age and subsequent Progressive era. The course was very detailed and taught me so many interesting things about life in the Gilded Age for the rich as well as the poor. I listened to it on Audible, which was a great experience! Highly recommended for history lovers!!

[Bobsie67 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent overview of how the Gilded Age and the Progressive Era stemmed from the tumult of the US Civil War. Covers many economic, political, and social topics. Also gives illustrative portraits of famous figures of the times--Gilded and Progressive Era celebrities. Professor's O'Donnell is an excellent speaker, and his lectures are witty, engaging, and informative. As is true with all great courses, these lectures are a general survey, as this topic is very rich. Much material is covered, nevertheless, and so I learned lots, especially how many themes of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era resound in our modern times.

[Kathy Nealen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Great Courses course. I used the DVD version. It was a really good course, although there wasn’t much need for video. There were some photographs and displays of information but most of the content was in the lectures. A very good review of American history and culture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

[Quentin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful and engaging overview of US history from roughly 1840ish-1920ish. Covers key cultural and philosophical trends, key events and movements, and important figures. Slight issues with sound editing here and there (the cuts are not always clean and sometimes interrupt O'Donnell or overlap reading takes), but the content is great.

[Lee Radford · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Progressive Era from 1890 to 1920 was a pivotal time of change for the United States. I would recommend reading this set of lectures together with reading The Upswing by Robert Putnam and Shaylyn Romney Garrett, which theorizes that the Progressive Era launched a long period of community togetherness that raised the United States.

[Jenni Ritchie · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many parallels to things happening today. I'll admit I wanted to hear tidbits about characters in HBO's "The Gilded Age". A great history refresher and as usual, filled me in on some of the many things left out of what one learns in school.

[Mack · Rating 4 out of 5]

A deep and broad understanding of our history - thoroughly stimulating

[Lamadia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great history course. It was very well organized and presented, and I will be looking for other courses by this professor.

[Tom Rowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great overview of the little-known historical time between the Civil War and WWI. I recommend.

[Francis X DuFour · Rating 5 out of 5]

History at its best! A well documented history of the US between the Civil War and the Great Depression. Very well written and details that bring the history to life.

[Catherine Stein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this course. Nice overview of this really interesting and pivotal time in the history of the US.

[Karl]

Impressive. Recurrent themes of worker/owner strife. Slavery pivotal.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

A partially sick love letter to big government.

[B.L. Blankenship · Rating 5 out of 5]

This telling of history was charming and insightful. There were a lot of things that I knew, and some that I did not. Some of the quotes & details in this were priceless.

[Molly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This course was just ok.

[Bill Dauster · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging study of an intresting age