Review: America in the Gilded Age and Progressive Era

 America in the Gilded Age and Progressive Era is the great courses lecture series about American history during the period from 1865-1920. In many ways, the period during that time correspond to ours --- dramatically rising inequality, systemic racism, and gradually increasing awareness of the problems of society, and the eternal struggle between the plutocrats and the liberals that battle for the benefits of society.

The lecturer is entertaining, interesting, and selects good topics to cover, while giving a lot of context to the rise of the civil rights movement, as well as the growing abuse of the robber barons. He reminds us that the progressive era ended with a return to power by the plutocrats after world war 1.

I thoroughly enjoyed the review of history and the reminder not to give up hope. The country has been through times that were much tougher and eventually the liberals still managed to eliminate child labor, give us the 5 day work week, and even won women the right to vote. All of those goals looked insurmountable during those times but eventually they happened, though not without violence and sacrifice.