New AHI Online Course on the Gilded Age and Progressivism

AHI is pleased to announce a new online course for the fall of 2026. “America from 1868 to 1914: Prosperity, Progress, and Conflict.” Instructor: David Frisk, Ph.D.—AHI Resident Fellow. This course is free and open to the public. Advanced registration is required and AHI will reimburse participants upon the completion of a course should they be unable to afford required course reading. This online class will meet on Mondays via Zoom (link to be provided upon registration) from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., September 14 through December 7. To sign up, or for more information, please contact Dr. Frisk at: [email protected] or (202) 999-5751. The late 19th century is often called the Gilded Age, a fascinating time of dramatic economic growth, impressive new wealth, industrialization, new social diversity, corruption, deep discontent, and upheaval both quiet and raucous. It was followed by a shorter but intense period of political and social reform—the Progressive Era. In these eras, best studied together because one grew out of the other, modern America was born. The main readings will be two highly acclaimed books by professional historians: American Colossus: The Triumph of Capitalism, 1865-1900 by H. W. Brands and The Search for Order, 1877-1920 by Robert H. Wiebe. The total assigned reading will be 25 to 30 pages per week. Each class session has a lecture-plus-discussion format, with time for discussion. There is a 10-minute break. Additional readings—mostly optional, but in several cases assigned—will be e-mailed to the class and will include such topics as: Major business leaders, clashing economic visions, political machines, the Republican and Democratic parties of the time, growing immigration, labor strife and radical movements, fear of the many great changes brewing in America, new concepts in politics and government, reforms often stemming from the Progressive movement, and Theodore Roosevelt. In addition to three recent courses on the American Revolution, Dr. Frisk’s past AHI classes have examined subjects including Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist, other aspects of American constitutional history, Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville, the Civil War, presidential power, the history and evolution of American political parties, the development of the idea of liberty, and conservative political philosophy. Dr. Frisk holds a Ph.D. in political science from Claremont Graduate University (2009), where he specialized in American politics and political philosophy. He is the author of the widely acclaimed If Not Us, Who? William Rusher, National Review, and the Conservative Movement (ISI Books, 2012) and is writing an intellectual biography of the legendary political scientist Willmoore Kendall.

Event Links

Website: https://go.evvnt.com/3807724-0

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