Chapter 1 | The Gilded Age | American Experience | PBS

Meet the elite of the lavishly wealthy Gilded Age - and the struggling workers who challenged them.
Learn more about our documentary, THE GILDED AGE, including where to watch the full film: www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexpe...

[@AmericanExperiencePBS]

Learn more about our documentary, THE GILDED AGE, including where to watch the full film: www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/gilded-age/

[@sherrywilliamson9535]

AmericanExperiencePBS where can I watch this online or cable tv?

[@paulineteneyuque5826]

Yee Haw!! Thank you!!.xoxox

[@amarcy6]

This link didn’t offer any information, just a prompt to sign up for a newsletter; could you please tell us where/how to watch this full documentary? Thank you!

[@sylviacoates6516]

Not avail. In Canada

[@thebeautifulsickness]

This sounds familiar

[@terr777]

The very year my 11 year old grandfather arrived on the ship. Small hands were useful for tending violets upstate. He worked for pennies, but made his way to some success with a lot of hard work in farming.

[@sandranorman5469]

One wonders which class of people were the happiest? My guess is that it depended on how you were raised. I know I grew up in a home where the Daddy died at my age of 11. But I never felt poor. Wonder how many of you felt poor?

[@ameanasaur]

"Those who fail to learn from the mistakes of history are doomed to repeat them." - George Santayana

[@sonnycorleone2602]

Ameanasaurus rex, 100% correct. That's why it's important to know history to hopefully not repeat it's mistakes.

[@Vuden13]

Whats the mistake here

[@centigradz2centigradz289]

I don't think these ppl think that pillaging, raping, killing and stealing land from Native Americans was a mistake. They still consider it a triumph that made America so great.

[@majomaja5646]

@@centigradz2centigradz289 Wow, and here I am just 10 minutes behind you. I don't think that these ppl really ever considered the Native Americans, they were way off of their radar. Please consider the following: Mankind's inhumanity to man is what made any civilization "great". Step back and see the bigger picture.

[@garyspence2128]

Why would they go to Africa? Their comments were about Native Americans, not black folks. Why call them parasite? They probably make more money than you, since you sound ignorant and bitter. Some people have lost any sense of dignity, or tolerance. Perhaps you should read your Bible, or smoke a blunt! Save the attitude for your poor family.

[@andrewey9389]

The more things change, the more they stay the same

[@atticussawatzki]

Agree, but now the gov’t has regulations to strangle the middle class.

[@ellyflow2191]

Girl put your records on

[@07krutons]

Now the poor read about inequality on their iPhones Lol

[@phlarrdboi]

Thank you confuscious

[@onomatopoeia162003]

probably in the 2nd one rn

[@judyholiday653]

I loved that man's expression at 0:47 when the wind blew his hat off..That is the only time that I have seen a real human like action/expression while watching these old clips that were filmed such along time ago. For the most part these ppl looked like emotionless robots walking around on some street or sidewalk..

[@kristeyh2761]

Judy Holiday It was not considered good etiquette to show your feelings in public. A well-educated person was supposed to keep their composure and remain cool at all times. To use a British term they were really Uptight until the private parties started.

[@gsabo1000]

Time traveler

[@krdiaz8026]

I think most people are emotionless when walking on the street regardless of the time. You just don't notice it because it's not the sort of thing you notice.

[@csfan65]

The same way people look today when they walk down the street....emotionless robots.

[@ingriddubbel8468]

Emotions don't change. You obviously have not seen many old film clips.

[@kaysharogers32]

I'm obsessed about the 1890s. Such a beautiful and deeply flawed time.

[@Vuden13]

Elaborate

[@PHlophe]

not having centralized heating in the 1890, deal breaker . i am good in this century

[@janetpattison8474]

Perhaps you were there in another lifetime. Our interests will provide clues about where we e been before and who we were.

[@PaDutchRunner]

@@janetpattison8474 Reincarnation is absolutely false.

[@PaDutchRunner]

@@PHlophe I don’t think it was as hot.

[@unrulysue6927]

And now here we are, a hundred plus years later and history is repeating itself. The first divide was brought about with the industrial revolution. Our current situation a result of the technological age. Not to say that either industry or technology are bad but rather that human greed has caused their misuse.

[@dolcevitausa]

well said...

[@KevinJohnson-cv2no]

And how exactly is it being "misused"? How is one man having more money than you bad? "Human greed" Lol the only difference between the poor and the rich, is that the rich have the skills to satiate their greed; whilst the poor have to resort to guilt tripping in hopes of being given something out of pity (I.E socialism, charity, religious morality etc.) And yes, I'm willing to debate the Economics with anyone who would aspire to it.

[@margaretevans2474]

You took the words right out my mouth

[@GirladyLocks]

@@KevinJohnson-cv2no Exactly. Skills, intellect , talent and courage is all one really needs to get ahead in our beloved country. If one sees himself as a victim, he will be crippled in ability. Believe you are a winner, pay your dues and have courage - you will be a winner. Those who would rather whine on the sidelines can not complain when the quarterback makes a touchdown. In fact, he should be rewarded with cheers, for he had the skills, intellect, talent and courage to move himself with the ball down the field through obstacles in order to make that touchdown. Success should be admired.

[@di7209]

GirladyLocks Not everyone has that chance, even if you try your hardest those with better connections or backgrounds do stand a better chance.

[@lisaahmari7199]

There is an excellent book called "The Good Old Days, They Were Terrible." Covers this in depth. Appalling that we are in the Gilded Age 2.0.

[@zico739]

Appalling is putting it lightly.

[@amychasen7817]

We are not in gilded age 2.0

[@amychasen7817]

@IpilotAnEVA That's why we're not in the guilded age 2.0. The absolute level and quality of life is more important than the disparity.

[@alejandra_ma]

The Gilded Age in drugs!

[@kayzeaza]

There has always been a wage gap, get over it

[@sydneysharrock6426]

POV: looking in the comments for other people who had to watch this because of an assignment.

[@willmeyer8602]

big yep

[@jaygurie]

Do y’all have the answers ??

[@jaygurie]

@b u b b l e s lmao I’m tryna do it rn I’m almost done 🥲

[@jaygurie]

@b u b b l e s sure it’s fine , I barely have friends either lol , and I’m going to fight through 😀 but yeah we can be friends

[@jaygurie]

@b u b b l e s yeah I do , imma put it in the chat and then when you get it imma delete it ! okay

[@radioheadtv3131]

0:42 the hat blew away love his expression XD

[@1AnitaJ]

During the Gilded Age, my paternal grandparents were among the working poor in lower Michigan. Their status was not affected by the great economic dichotomy brought on by all the hubbub of the day. Meanwhile, my maternal grandparents were farming in northeast Missouri and were also unaffected. Their financial situation was substantially better than that of my father's family.

[@cheaserceaser]

Were they raci's and gender biased?

[@JasonCarney.]

@@cheaserceaser 👈👈👈CLOSETED HOMOSEXUAL

[@isabellaxoxo8357]

0:42 R.I.P. Hat 😢✌🏾

[@michealrawlings9281]

“We are the rich . We own America. We got it, God knows how?!? But we intend to keep it!!!” 3:28mark. Powerful statement. To bad we don’t know who made that statement. I’m sure they still own America. 🇺🇸

[@user-lu9hq6jv4v]

A Rothschild said that quote.

[@ramsesdie9999]

@@user-lu9hq6jv4v Yea, no doubt

[@nattorres]

Right?!

[@michaelhiggins8843]

Carnegie: "I make as much in a few hours as my average worker makes in a year!!" Bill Gates & Jeff Bezos: "YOOO YOU WANT TO SEE SOME REAL SPEED"

[@myztartupjourney6772]

Bernard Arnault makes more in a few seconds than the average person makes in a year

[@mayena]

@@myztartupjourney6772 At the moment Bernard Arnault is still the world’s third richest person.

[@myztartupjourney6772]

@@mayena check again €199.9 Billion he is currently the richest

[@brandoagusti7288]

If you are curious to know, Carnegie was way richer than Gates and Bezos if you adjust for inflation. His wealth at his peak was something like 350-400b, even when he kept giving away his money to fund public projects such as libraries and universities.

[@janetsaeger8439]

Capitalism lives on !!! Don't pay the worker a living wage, pay just enough so he can't leave you

[@cynthiafeagin5185]

I visited the Biltmore estate in asheville NC. I can't imagine living like that.

[@8600PM]

That brother at the beginning with wind in his hat though!

[@corinneshutack3453]

I thought it was strange when in at 4:54, the person said, "American had been founded ... for a country of farmers." These men weren't farmers. They managed concentration camps that yielded crops. My 7th great uncle, John Hart, signed the Declaration of Independence. He is listed in a monument in DC as a "farmer." But he owned enslaved people. He was more akin to a higher-up in the SS than a farmer, I'm sorry to say. And one study shows that 73% of the signers managed these concentration camps for profit.

[@candaceroberts3238]

Ridiculous

[@maggiemae7539]

@@candaceroberts3238 everyone knows Jefferson had slaves and had children with one

[@Bahia82]

Thank you for your honesty

[@tommiebusche1001]

Thank you PBS for the wisdom & foibles that always makes your product irresistible! You are appreciated.

[@rexbentley8332]

no you're not

[@sissyrayself7508]

Yes..thank you PBS for your thought control and one sided narrative..helping to keep the TRUE bad guys obscured... But do not worry mankind..for.. All that was hidden is coming into the light. And the true bad guys are not who you are led to believe they are.. Their TRUE affiliation and secret beliefs and twisted " values" and sick occult practices that have manipulated and controlled all the major players from behind the scenes are finally being revealed. Obviously the revelation us not taking place here on Their Tube..and it is not revealed in academia or the lame stream media..which, until recently has naintained its tight control of the narrative..and kept pushing the lies of the puppet masters and party line towers like PBS..Smithsonian, Pulitzer..etc.. But there are other places to find information. And you... The People, must always keep in mind that they ..the " official" so- called " fact"??? checkers are full of manure.

[@sissyrayself7508]

@@rexbentley8332 I agree.. PBS is just another sold out mouthpiece for the puppet masters. The blind masses lap up the propoganda and lick the hands of their controllers for more.

[@janvanwagner2163]

You can easily see that they thought of themselves as a new ARISTOCRACY ! After the battle to escape that very thing in Europe- once they were rich they wanted the system back. They've been working toward that wealthy / serf system since. Farming allowed people to be independent and self sufficient. Working for the rich leaves them independent & everyone else dependent.

[@ann-carolinemorner6405]

While the European aristocrats laughed at them.

[@HippocratesBlack]

You can easily see that each speaker in that video holds victimhood in the utmost reverence in their mind. Dreaming greedily of handing out the favors of utter ineptitude that will leave their own responsibilities in a fog by comparison, and finally settling the gnawing rot of arrogance in their gut.

[@jessicam.4777]

@@ann-carolinemorner6405 Sure…though some needed the money and wealth of the Americans. Ironic.

[@starcrib]

We now are living in the New Gilded Age. And its horrifying.

[@EuphoriaPiana]

Technologically, yes; but in many other respects (such as with architecture)... NO. :-|

[@Stinoco]

How can you say this is the New Golded Age? We’re better than past decades like the 60s, the millionaires pay higher taxes, there is no slaves, and more equality, you must be referring to the 90s

[@gelineavenir5905]

True...it's happening again.

[@modfus]

Well, the rich are different today - and there's a lot more of them - a lot more self-made people and there is no rigid class system like there was in the late 19th century.

[@lisathuban8969]

You say that, but...

[@susprime7018]

"Behind every great fortune is a great crime." Honore de Balzac.

[@Jinka1950]

Hogwash....

[@janesmith1398]

It's hard work.

[@johnhoney5089]

@@janesmith1398 And also crime. The Mafia got a great fortune, but it came from illegal business and a side of murder.

[@zzdoodzz]

A few years ago they had a lottery that was $1 billion USD. Let's say you buy a ticket, you win all of it (after taxes of course) and now you have a great fortune. Was there a great crime? Mr. Balzac should have prefaced his statement with generally speaking, in many cases.

[@japanjack62]

No just people who are jealous

[@jeantyler9059]

And we're right back where we started.

[@katjerouac]

No. There's tons of regulations now. Just think if we didn't have them.

[@michaelguerrieri3486]

@@katjerouac Bidenis president.

[@user-gy1bu9gf8l]

Only if government spending returned to below 8% of national income; trade barriers were removed; the money supply ceased outpacing productivity gains, and nearly all forms of government regulation were repealed would we be "back where we started". Unfortunately this is not the case.

[@andrewberrocal2281]

I’d sooner die a thousand lifetimes hungry and begging for salvation then to live warmer and fuller at the expense of my fellow man

[@karifredrikson8492]

Andrew&Olga / But you won’t have to make that decision or suffer for “mankind”. Your point of view has been developed during a prosperous generation.

[@fatpotatoe6039]

Then save all of your income and go hungry and thirsty every day to pay other people's wages. Oh look! Now you're an investor! An entrepreneur! A...capitalist!

[@issecret1]

Then you've never been poor

[@fatpotatoe6039]

@@issecret1 Legendary capitalist chad

[@pcdm43145]

If only it were that simple... easy to say, almost impossible to do, unfortunately. Scratch below the surface of our global-supply-chain, and much of the everyday necessities we all require to live, are the result of exploitaion & suffering. I always come back to the old saying, _"there are no clean hands in a dirty world."_ To some, it's an observation; to others, it's an excuse; to a few braver souls than mine, it's a call-to-action.

[@njhawk89]

A great glimpse of the rise, and fall, of the Gilded Age can be found in the book "Fortune's Children: The Fall of the House of Vanderbilt" A great read and a look perhaps at our world today?

[@clanmaccus1959]

njhawk89 Does the book reference the role of the Rothschilds?

[@maggiemae7749]

@@clanmaccus1959 no. They are not going to say that. Lol

[@felicitys3621]

Thanks for putting that omy winter reading list

[@sissyrayself7508]

Trust me..they have not fallen nearly far enough...yet....... But they will They most certainly will.

[@emmabovary1228]

You may like Cornelia Vanderbilt The Glitter and the Gold. Fascinating read when she was a Duchess.

[@TheDoomWizard]

I can't help but thing of direct parallels to today, we are all hyper connected online. But also the imagery puts me right back into RDR2. Such an amazing and classic story telling game. It's as if Rockstar knew they'd be making something so profoundly relevant along with it being a chapter in our human history.

[@victorialadybug1]

I wonder if the Gilded Age has ever left.

[@EuphoriaPiana]

What do you mean by that?

[@IEMac6]

Queen Victoria is that you

[@quester09]

people still buy into the mythology

[@danielfrancis3736]

Briefly, but we gave up on that project in the late 70's and the 80's. Or rather convinced ourselves that Gilded age policies would lead to non gilded age results.

[@valeriadelrio-rodriguez4953]

Socio-economically we're re-living it.

[@ILoveManCity.]

Watching this made me remember The Mistborn serie from Brandon Sanderson. Is fantasy but I now realize how much history it has & how incredible accurate is.

[@sissyrayself7508]

They use their movies, books, music and sinnertainment to tell us their hidden truths. It is part of their religion. They have to reveal their plans to use beforehand..ti alleviate their own blame..aftwr all..they tell themselves...it is our OWN fault if we are too blind and stupid..according to them..to see it for what it is.They warned us.. So in their estimation..they therefore hold no blame or accountability. Alternately.... They use their news and. their schools to tell us lies. Truth in movies and books Lies on the news and at schools. If you learn nothing else..this truth will be plenty for you you start To SEE. You're welcome.

[@maggiemae7539]

@@sissyrayself7508 Jesus tells us this. We are to listen to Him. Not them

[@Contessa6363]

Required reading for everyone Jacob Riis" How the other Half Lives highly recommend excellent reading!!

[@EM2theBee]

If politicians can de-fund and under-fund public education, they create a base of poor people who will work for the pittance they offer and not even realize they are indentured servants.

[@missflipz]

I’m not sure what this is about yet but saved to my watch later but from comments it’s sounds very interesting. I’ve had it said to me recently by those closest to me ‘I’m up there, you’re down here’ but I feel truly grateful for all I have and feel blessed beyond imagination having faith and shelter. Should it be that I ever lose my shelter then I trust that it’s leading me to blessings through hardship 🙏🏼

[@cloromiratrevino6640]

PLEASE PLEASE MORE HISTORY THANKS A MILLION!!!

[@s.v.2796]

Watching this in 2023. The parallels are stark.

[@truecynic1270]

Apparently NOTHING has changed - indeed, things are getting even worse

[@mariekatherine5238]

The description certainly fits today.

[@insaneone4369]

The documentary disappeared from all outlets.

[@jtrain5615]

The clothing at 3:46 must have been a costume ball. That's not the fashion of that era.

[@ringpop6177]

That guys hat flew off! 😂

[@harshitmadan6449]

Gilded age was the largest jump in living standards humanity had ever seen.

[@ShHeMiLeRe]

It's one of the most misunderstood periods but American Experience never challenges the conventional opinion. It's just simpler that way. Details are for books.

[@1911beauty]

@@ShHeMiLeRe Right...... If you notice nobody tells both sides of any story anymore

[@gerardorcastellanos950]

You’re wrong! It occurred during the post WW II period. Study history,not Russipublican 1% bullshit.

[@jkigtehuioropsdfjoaw]

I bet to disagree what China did in the past 40 years broke its record

[@fatpotatoe6039]

​@@gerardorcastellanos950 He said "had" ever seen, you idiot, meaning up until that point in history.

[@winstonwins1096]

It amazes me how anyone can seriously talk like this age ever really ended.

[@sharonspaghetti815]

This is ecactly the same in 2019 only the stats then said 1% owned more and now 3% so just about the same. So sad and terrifying.

[@steaminglobster]

After 150 years, the rich is richer and poor is poorer, but at a much faster speed, and the poor does not even have a factory to go to to earn decent wage by hardworking anymore.

[@MrCJ-qz9dl]

@0:43...the poor brother's hat flew off.😁

[@sonnycorleone2602]

At 0:17 I sure do hope those boys were not throwing snowballs at their old school teacher's ice skating by. Just kidding. LOL. I am into history and I do enjoy these History documentaries, and the old photos and moving scenes that often go along with it. You should learn something too by watching this video ! On How the past often effects the present day. . Thanks for the upload.

[@williamlucas3272]

The gilded Age in large part was created by placed men whom were ruthless, intelligent and loyal to their overseer; European Rothchild. Nothing has changed, as that same dominion continues.

[@mai.vancon]

8:55 What is that building called?

[@bjradrian3983]

I will remember this quote forever: One wealthy matron sniffed at the rest of us: "We are the rich. We own the gold. We make the rules.". As she tried and succeeded in keeping her wastrel son out of jail.

[@Arperture]

Similarly, Fred Trump kept Donald out of the draft by paying a doctor to diagnose him with bone spurs.

[@franvansiclen5687]

@@Arperture - you're a moron !

[@suzannereiser4720]

ChasingDogma How Trump was able to convince his working class followers that he is on their side will go down as one of the greatest cons of all time.

[@5DNRG]

The critical difference between the haves/have nots is a mindset.

[@petrinajc]

It actually isn’t. If that was the case their wouldn’t be just 1% The national average wage still wouldn’t be at 24K

[@jobooboo6830]

They should of all shared the with the poor that made them wealthy, and the world wouldn't be in the condition that it is in now. When you share your wealth with the ones that make you wealthy, everyone becomes with happiness and pride, with no greed, and that's how all us are suppose to be. I hope we all wake upp!

[@GW-kq1jd]

Well said.

[@bentotron3654]

Anywhere I can see the whole thing.

[@leanordials8008]

PBS Passport

[@jcturnes1]

The music made me cry!!! (so sad...)

[@patricakulick9668]

Okay for those of you here from school I’d like who ever has a summary of this video or anything along those lines to help out other students to put it under my comment so other students can get help and not have to scroll for hours looking though how “nothing has changed” and all that stuff. Thank you for helping your fellow students!

[@3321far]

Rodney Dangerfield had a joke about a grandfather who made the family fortune and his decedents were Putzes. It is so true today. When we had inheritance taxes, the successful people had their wealth taxed and plowed back into the country. This set the stage for the next group of smart, tough and lucky people to find financial success. Now we're like Europe. We have idle wealthy people leading our decline. If they had to work and compete to re-attain wealth they would grow the economy or make room for tougher, smarter, harder working people who find better ways to do things.

[@greenyoshigamergamingvlogs5197]

Oh just like now! Exactly!!

[@oldtgr7624]

Taxpayers support PBS, but are not allowed to watch all the videos on the PBS site unless they purchase a "membership" (donate a given amount to PBS). Gilded age of PBS?

[@andersliljevall2946]

And see today how history repeats itself!

[@NaYawkr]

"He has shown might in His arm. He has banished the rich in the conceit of their hearts, He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. " This is what God will do.

[@richardyoung4616]

You god has nothing to do with anything, STFU.

[@dorothyp7385]

These rich have gone to their empty graves empty

[@nini1957]

Wow....just like today. Scary

[@Refilwe_Fifi]

Where can one watch this documentary outside of the USA? South Africa to be specific....

[@thegmanpaints]

3:29 really hits different watching in 2021

[@lisabriskey]

Great video

[@autumnfall8829]

History certainly repeats itself, doesn't it?

[@rayva1]

That hasn’t change much today. The 1% still exists.

[@McSnerdly]

This should've been called "Rich people: why you must hate them"

[@Carol-D.1324]

Rita McClellan IKR!?!?

[@jibraan123100]

which you most definitely should

[@user-gy1bu9gf8l]

You must then hate yourself, for you are "rich people".

[@oliviamerlos626]

The more things change, the more they remain the same !

[@mississippimillionaire3790]

The Gilded Age TV series brought me here..

[@okimawilcox1550]

The myth of the self-made is alive and well. They all climbed on the backs of others and taught their children to do the same.

[@arthurgabriel4153]

i learned so much thank u its a shame we dont use horses to travel anymore i would enjoy that

[@shadrach6299]

Arthur Gabriel Lots of horse shit and dead animals in the streets

[@PHlophe]

@@shadrach6299 i was about to write this then i saw your comment. ha ha ha

[@hallsjuju2400]

But just think of all the manure. I’m sure that was a job for someone.

[@NaYawkr]

Walmart ruined the small businessman. On May 31st, 1889 the rich owners of the steel mills owned an exclusive club called the South Fork hunting and fishing club, 15 miles above Johnstown, Pennsylvania and at 3: 10 PM their privately owned, badly neglected and unsafe dam failed sending a flood down on the city and killing over 2000 innocent men, women and children, Not one penny in lawsuits against these rich people, including Carnegie, Frick, Mellon the banker, and their pals was ever paid to the victims to this day. That was the worst disaster to befall this nation until 9-11-2001.

[@alalducente]

blaming walmart is stupid

[@jackalenterprisesofohio]

I don't think mass lawsuits were even invented yet back then?

[@ginajoseph8776]

We need to break up these enormous tech companies, hedge funds, such as Black Rock, break up the pharmaceutical companies, the media. We need Monopoly busters that are brave enough to come against these greedy demons.

[@davidpena6919]

Lmao the man lost his hat 0:41

[@frosting6439]

Can’t wait.

[@wavveytae4181]

Where the whole documentary

[@biancahotca3244]

Carnegie was Scottish, not American. He came to the U.S. in his teens I believe. His family was very poor in Scotland. After he became wealthy he was a tyrant with his workers is what I read. I don't have respect for idiots like that, that take advantage of poor people. It's good that the labor unions were created, but they have also gone too far.

[@smujer1]

I would think anyone growing up poor would remember what that was like and bend over backward to help the less fortunate once they became wealthy.

[@sr2291]

​@@smujer1 Only a highly ethical person would think like that.

[@spencer2536]

Anyone got any school notes for this?

[@shena1256]

Anybody see the guys hat being snatched away and the look of surprise he had? 😂😂😂

[@dr.calebrobbins.3177]

Somethings do not change ... with the exception of learning to conceal you wealth.

[@pussycat4423]

Very good documentary of the rich and poor in the gilded age. Too bad you cannot really support a family of 5 though like you could do back then through factory work and building Model T Fords..

[@HattieMcDanielonaMoon]

Such elegant clothing.

[@AlexS-oj8qf]

"Everybody has the chance to succeed" But then someone succeed and suddenly they're the enemy of the people. This logic is always surprising for me lol

[@nikkid4890]

Amen. I was about to comment the same. Everyone wants to have an equal opportunity, but very few are willing to accept their own failure to optimise those opportunities

[@rachelhoward334]

There is nothing wrong with success, it is obscene wealth and governments that allow this that is the problem . Surely every man deserves a decent wage for a good days work that gives the employer a profit, but the abuse of that worker by the employer and perpetuated by capitalist governments is wrong. Tax evasion by multinationals is a crime which good governments should not be allowing, it drags the country down and the poor pay the price.

[@fatpotatoe6039]

@@rachelhoward334 It's the other way around. Taxes on capital are paid for by the poor and working classes; the economic incidence of the tax isn't on the capitalist.

[@bayoubabe6698]

It’s still shocking!

[@libertygiveme1987]

Jesus Himself said - "The poor will ALWAYS be with you." Until He comes back, of course. But America, at least at some point, was LESS, US AGAINST THEM than ANY OTHER COUNTRY!!!!

[@issecret1]

Sure, you're God's favorite 🙄

[@granvillesexton7102]

Who is the man bottom right at 2:56 ? Is there any way to find out? My friend Mark is, or rather was this mans doppleganger and being that he was adopted, would it be that much of a stretch to believe the two are related?

[@e.jenima7263]

something this clip fails to mention is the that in that time the middle classes from the blue collar to the upper middle class were growing rapidly during this time and was filling in the gap between rich and poor they had the spare cash to spend on a multitude of products and entertainment . That is the only difference between then and today we have no middle class as it once was .It is not easy to simply earn a good living for your self if you a just single or married. Hell you have to jump through hoops just to get a part time minimum wage job that does not include working for big bad Walmart or a fast food joint for christ sake! everyone is expected to have collage degrees they may or may not even use and a hie school diploma is not even enoff anymore because we have become a far too electronically driven society . we have dug ourselves into this hole and we are too stupid to get ourselves out of it. their are many things I love about the gilded age but I feel in some ways we should not have evolved past post colonial america which also had it issues but their were plenty of things which were good about it . The founding Fathers would turn in their graves at seeing how their experiment turned out and at the same time watch in amazement and horror....like a train wreck.

[@AMYV3]

Well said. 👏🏼👏🏼 It floors me how easily the 99% can be conned into voting for “ leaders” that are continually keeping them down. ( in their place ) 🤦‍♀️

[@jenwerqthatazzout7639]

Poor in the United States and poor in the rest of the world, are two very different things. Our “poor” still manage to have the latest Jordans and iPhones. Yet, they find it impossible to come up with money for health insurance. therefore we “need” universal healthcare coverage🙄

[@jamaalshelton6793]

You have never seen the poor in the US. You are confusing poor with working class. Poor are not walking around with an IPhone. I love how people who Had years of Govt privilege give out advice on poverty

[@MySensualWorld]

@@jenwerqthatazzout7639 not all of them not even close!

[@firelioness363]

Shinny exterior with the rott underneath...wow!!!....

[@LindaCasey]

Nothing ever changes does it? Same ol' same ol'

[@ezandman6804]

0:43 Dude!

[@SomewhataMystery]

Mark Twain invented the word gilded age he also wrote of this time.

[@LoulouG2010]

Any still continues to be the same today..............

[@lynettetrenam4506]

Nothings changed!

[@americancitizen748]

We are still two nations -- seemingly divided forever.

[@jajanesaddictions]

where's the rest of it????

[@AmericanExperiencePBS]

You can watch the full documentary here www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/gilded-age/ via PBS Passport, and it's also available from ShopPBS.com, iTunes and Amazon.

[@zoesmybaby]

So history has definitely repeated itself here

[@SRK191811]

Agggh, I was getting so into it.

[@Captain-Sum.Ting-Wong]

+AmericanExperiencePBS It's too bad I have to pay to watch something from a publicly funded TV station.

[@jajanesaddictions]

Captain Sum Ting Wong I just went to the link, signed in, picked my station and I didn't have to pay.

[@idcraw]

I love the way yanks make it sound like they are the only ones who ever had an idea

[@texasred2702]

Naw, just most of them.

[@darlabible1325]

idcraw; 😂🤣😂🤣😂😘

[@cynthiamoyers9805]

This was not what i expected.

[@bettypierce552]

Very nice series I look that time period. The clothes were beautiful. Both. Men and women. Great series. Julian Fellows.has Don it once again. Almost as good as Dowton Abby

[@ohmeowzer1]

Where is part 2

[@AmericanExperiencePBS]

You can watch the full documentary here www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/gilded-age/ via PBS Passport, and it's also available from ShopPBS.com, iTunes and Amazon.

[@tfh5575]

Seems oddly familiar...

[@kittentude]

And so it remains...

[@michaelstrickland6035]

And here we are again. Once more a nation of the filthy rich vs, everyone else.

[@tamarrajames3590]

Minus the industrial production ( mostly being done in countries where there is child labour and workers not receiving a living wage)…The divide between the haves, and the have nots, has only grown beyond all former imagination. The wheel has turned full circle, back to where it once was…only worse.🖤🇨🇦

[@mrs.g.9816]

I'd rather watch a documentary about the have's and have-nots of that era than a soap-opera series. Although the buildings and attire of the wealthy were gorgeous, the gap between the spoiled rich and the destitute was sickening. This era started a lot of people thinking about social reform. Much later, under FDR, we got the Social Security system set up. But as for every citizen in the 21st century earning decent wages and having enough food and a decent home, this nation still has a way to go.