Series synopsis
The Men Who Built America is an American documentary television series that premiered on History on October 16, 2012. It ended on November 11, 2012. It stars Tim Getman, Michael Chmiel, David Donahoe and Ray Reynolds.
Influential builders, dreamers and believers whose feats transformed the United States, a nation decaying from the inside after the Civil War, into the greatest economic and technological superpower the world had ever seen. The Men Who Built America is the story of a nation at the crossroads and of the people who catapulted it to prosperity.
Premise
Influential builders, dreamers and believers whose feats transformed the United States, a nation decaying from the inside after the Civil War, into the greatest economic and technological superpower the world had ever seen. The Men Who Built America is the story of a nation at the crossroads and of the people who catapulted it to prosperity.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Tim Getman as John D. Rockefeller
- Michael Chmiel as William Vanderbilt
- David Donahoe as Cornelius Vanderbilt
- Ray Reynolds as J.P. Morgan (The Elder)
- Eric Rolland as J.P Morgan (The Younger)
- Adam Jonas Segaller as Andrew Carnegie (The Elder)
- AJ Achinger as Andrew Carnegie (The Younger)
- Alex Falberg as Nikola Tesla
Supporting cast
- Cary Donaldson as Henry Ford
- Einar Gunn as George Westinghouse
- James Kidd as William Jennings Bryan
- Kenneth Cavett as Jim Fisk
- Cameron McNary as Jay Gould
- Joseph Wiegand as Theodore Roosevelt
- Justin Morck as Thomas Edison
- John C. Bailey as Henry Clay Frick
- Daniel Odell as President William McKinley
- Daniel Martin Berkey as Junius Morgan
- John Keabler as Charles M Schwab
- Don Meehan Jr as Thomas Scott
Episodes
This series spans 1 season with 4 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 4 | October 16, 2012 | November 11, 2012 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
A New War Begins As the nation attempts to rebuild following the destruction of the Civil War, Cornelius Vanderbilt is the first to see the need for unity to regain America’s stature in the world. He sells his shipping empire to invest everything in the railroads, knowing they’re the best chance for uniting East and West as never before. |
October 16, 2012 |
| 2 |
Bloody Battles As it recovers from the Civil War, America undertakes the largest building phase of the country's history. While much of the growth is driven by railroads and oil, it's built using steel. |
October 23, 2012 |
| 3 |
Changing the Game The steel and oil have forever changed the face of America, but they are just the beginning. JP Morgan arrives on the scene and expedites growth through finance. |
October 30, 2012 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | History |
|---|---|
| First aired | October 16, 2012 |
| Last aired | November 11, 2012 |
| Runtime | 120 minutes |
| Status | ended |
| Schedule | Sunday at 20:00:00 |