America 250 · 1877–1900
Gilded Age
Industrial capitalism builds the modern country; the country mostly hates it.
From the end of Reconstruction through the assassination of McKinley — the railroads, the trusts, the immigrants in the cities, the labor wars, the Populists. The first time Americans had to think hard about how rich some people were getting.
Presidents who served
Histories
American Colossus: The Triumph of Capitalism, 1865-1900
H.W. Brands · 2010
The single-volume on how industrial capitalism remade America — Brands's answer to McPherson for the Gilded Age.
The Devil in the White City
Erik Larson · 2003
The 1893 Chicago World's Fair and the serial killer who used it as cover. The era's contradictions in one summer.
The Republic for Which It Stands: The United States during Reconstruction and the Gilded Age, 1865-1896
Richard White · 2017
Oxford History of the US. The successor to McPherson's Civil War volume — the period as a single argument.
Lives
The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt
Edmund Morris · 1979
Pulitzer winner. TR's pre-presidency life — half the book is the Gilded Age he came of age in.
Fiction
The Age of Innocence
Edith Wharton · 1920
Pulitzer winner. Old New York in the 1870s — the social rules and the cost of breaking them.
On screen
The Gilded Age
Julian Fellowes · 2022
HBO drama from the Downton Abbey creator — the new money and old money of 1880s New York.
Common questions
What is the Gilded Age era?
The Gilded Age spans from 1877 to 1900, beginning after Reconstruction and ending with the assassination of President McKinley. It is defined by the rapid rise of industrial capitalism, the growth of railroads and trusts, major labor conflicts, and the emergence of the Populist movement.
Why does the Gilded Age matter to modern American history?
The Gilded Age represents the period when industrial capitalism built the modern United States. It was the first time Americans faced the consequences of extreme wealth inequality, leading to significant social tension and the development of the economic and political structures that define the nation today.
What is the best book to start learning about the Gilded Age?
For a comprehensive overview of the era, American Colossus: The Triumph of Capitalism, 1865-1900 by H.W. Brands is an essential resource. If you prefer a narrative approach focusing on specific events, The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson provides a detailed look at the period.
How can I see the Gilded Age depicted on screen?
The 2022 television series The Gilded Age offers a dramatized look at the social and industrial shifts of this era. It captures the tensions between the old guard and the new industrial elite, reflecting the broader themes of wealth and class struggle present between 1877 and 1900.
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