New HISTORY CHANNEL Series 'The Men Who Built America' to Premiere Tuesday, October 16

TV By the Numbers ^ | September 5th, 2012 | Sara Bibel

[kingattax]

Cornelius Vanderbilt, John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, J.P. Morgan, Henry Ford. Their names are synonymous with innovation, big business and the American Dream. They built empires. They created incredible advances in technology. They changed the world.

HISTORY chronicles the lives of these visionary men in THE MEN WHO BUILT AMERICA, an eight-hour event series premiering Tuesday, October 16 at 9 p.m. on HISTORY Channel.

THE MEN WHO BUILT AMERICA chronicles how these five self-made men shaped the future of this country, transforming the U.S. into a global superpower in a span of just 50 years, and how they affected the lives of every person in the world.

Vanderbilt was one of the first to see how railroads could change how goods are shipped, creating the model for our modern railroads. Carnegie created the process for mass-producing steel, which allowed large buildings to become a reality. Rockefeller discovered a way to refine oil that set the worldwide standard. Morgan created the modern financial system. Ford made the car accessible to the masses.

[AuntB]

“Nonsense. We all know that Harriet Tubman built America.”

I heard it was Che Guevara.

[SoFloFreeper]

Just a word of caution: the History Channel also brought “The Story of US” supposedly a good overview of American history...what it REALLY WAS was a left wing perspective and indictment of the country....a Howard Zinn-like production. It was disgusting.

[History Repeats]

I totally agree. The History Channel has been anything BUT history over the last few years. It breaks my heart too. I used to love watching shows like Wild West Tech and many of the other old west shows. Plus all the pretty good history stuff they presented. Sure some of it was told from a PC point of view sometimes, but at least it had to do with History.

[mjp]

Jay Gould was important for technological progress in both communications and transportation. Plus, his story is fascinating. I wish he were part of this series.

[sand88]

A series that actually celebrates capitalists.

I pray you are right.

Unless someone like Williams or Sowell has viewed the entire series and judged it celebrating capitalists, I will remain skeptical.

Utterly evil, anti-individualist, anti-Constitution, rabidly anti-capitalist leftists infect every institution in our beloved Republic.

To have a production on any network that truly celebrates capitalism would be a pleasant surprise.

[Jude in WV]

John Gast “American Progress” (1872)

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[Jude in WV]

John Gast "American Progress" (1872)

[Squawk 8888]

Sadly, in today’s times, these same visionaries would be vilified.

As they were in their own time. Look at what the Feds did to Rockefeller.

[Jude in WV]

John Gast "American Progress" (1872)

[Soul of the South]

In addition to the great capitalists, the men who built American list should include the great inventors:

Eli Whitney - Cotton gin and interchangeable parts which made modern manufacturing possible

Robert Fulton - steamboat

Samuel Morse - telegraph and morse code

John Moses Browning - semi-automatic weapons

Samuel Colt - Colt revolver

Cyrus McCormick - The reaper revolutionized agriculture

Charles Goodyear - Vulcanized Rubber

Thomas Edison - Electric lights, motion pictures, recorded sound

Frank W. Woolworth - Mass merchandise retailing

Willis Carrier - Air conditioning

Wright Brothers - Airplane

Philo Farnsworth - Television

Al Gore - the internet (just kidding, I couldn’t resist)

[lulu16]

Thank-you. I'll DVR it. Shall we reconvene and discuss the episodes after they appear? It will be interesting to see if they are portrayed as robber barons.

Off topic: can anyone tell me if the standard of living was higher before there was income tax. My recollection was income tax, small as it was initially, was partly designed to chip away at these tycoons’ wealth.

[Vaduz]

Government bureaucrats who created Amtrak (no profit in 41 years) and the post office (going bankrupt).Another reason for term limits.

[hout8475]

[sneakers]

I don’t know. In the pre-views, they seem to portray the industrialists as greedy, nasty opportunists who stepped on the little guy on the way to success.

[Mr. Dough]

Reminded me of "The Man Who Built America" by Horslips. This great Irish band recorded this Album in the late 70s to captured the experience of all the generations of (legal) immigrants who sacrificed everything to come here and build the greatest country in the history of the world. Of course now I can hardly hear it without hearing that idiot saying "You didn't build that!" in my mind. Here tis, not necessarily the best video (pre-MTV) but check it out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HHQ7kMXl7M

[2001convSVT]

Excellent, shout it far and loud! This is what is needed in America today, that you can be a success! 50 years of socialist indoctrination by the democrats in our government schools have brought us to this point, that many couldn't identify any from your list.

[wardaddy]

that would be my first hunch as well