Welcome to the Gilded Age: Wealth, Upheaval, and Reinvention
Civics & Coffee: A History Podcast
01/03/26
•19m
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The Gilded Age began as the United States marked the 100th anniversary of independence, entering an era of rapid industrial growth and profound social change. This introductory episode sets the stage for what you can expect in my coverage of the Gilded Age, exploring how new technologies, expanding railroads, and rising industrial power transformed everyday life.
Learn how as wealth accumulated at the top and economic inequality widened workers organized and demanded better and safer working conditions. I also touch on how political corruption flourished alongside unprecedented prosperity, sparking growing demands for reform. We have so much to cover together - get ready for one wild ride!
Previous Episode
Beyond Patriots vs. Loyalists: The Global American Revolution with Dr. Richard Bell
December 27, 2025
•35m
Was the American Revolution really just a colonial rebellion against Britain? According to historian Dr. Richard Bell, the answer is no.
In this episode, we discuss Bell’s book The American Revolution and the Fate of the World, which reframes the Revolution as a global, transnational conflict with consequences stretching far beyond North America—from Spain and the Caribbean to Indigenous nations and British India.
Bell challenges familiar myths about the Revolution, including the simplistic portrayal of King George III as a tyrant, the mythologizing of the Battle of Trenton, and the idea that the conflict was merely Patriots vs. Loyalists. We explore how propaganda and a vibrant revolutionary press shaped public opinion, how Indigenous peoples acted as crucial political and military players, and why Spain’s role in undermining British power has been largely forgotten.
This conversation shows why challenging national myths is essential to understanding what the American Revolution really was—and why it mattered to the wider world.
Next Episode
He came to office after a hotly contested election and served only a single term. How did Rutherford B. Hayes change the presidency and the United States?
Tune into this episode where I lay the groundwork for understanding the twentieth president of the United States. Learn about Hayes' early days, his military service, and his pre-presidential political appointments.
When you are done listening to this introductory episode, be sure to check out the episode dedicated to the election of 1876 so you are all prepared for the final chapter next week!
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