The Men Who Built America (2012)
The gripping true story of the industrial titans who forged a shattered nation into the world's most powerful economy.
The Men Who Built America - Series Information
- Original Title: The Men Who Built America
- First Air Year: 2012
- Last Air Year: 2012
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Documentary
- Content Rating (US): TV-PG
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (120 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Number of Episodes: 4
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: October 16, 2012 (United States - TV-PG), October 16, 2012 (Canada - G), October 16, 2012 (Germany - 12), October 16, 2012 (France - 12), October 16, 2012 (Mexico - A)
- Networks: History
- Production Companies: Stephen David Entertainment
- Production Countries: United States of America
- Alternative Titles: 谁建造了美国 (CN), Gigantes de la Industria (CL)
The Men Who Built America - Plot
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.
The Men Who Built America - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the epic story of America's industrial age unfold.
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The Men Who Built America - Cast & Crew
Main Cast
- Tim Getman
- Michael Chmiel
- David Donahoe
- Ray Reynolds
- Eric Rolland
- Adam Jonas Segaller
- AJ Achinger
- Alex Falberg
- Cary Donaldson
- Einar Gunn
The Men Who Built America - FAQs
Who are the real figures portrayed in The Men Who Built America?
The series focuses on five towering figures of the Gilded Age: Cornelius Vanderbilt and his son William in railroads, John D. Rockefeller in oil, Andrew Carnegie in steel, J.P. Morgan in banking, and Henry Ford in automobiles. Inventors Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison also feature prominently.
Is The Men Who Built America based on true events?
Entirely. The series dramatizes the real lives and rivalries of America's most powerful industrialists during the Gilded Age, blending dramatic reenactments with commentary from historians and modern business leaders. Every story — from Rockefeller's oil monopoly to the AC/DC current war — is rooted in documented history.
Where can you stream The Men Who Built America?
The series streams on Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and History's own platform. It's also available through HISTORY Vault on both Apple TV and Amazon channels. If you prefer to own it, episodes can be purchased on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home. Hoopla offers free access.
How did The Men Who Built America perform with critics?
The miniseries was a major hit for the History Channel, drawing millions of viewers and earning praise for making dense economic history compelling and accessible. Critics highlighted its cinematic production values and the effective mix of dramatic reenactments with expert commentary, setting a new standard for docudrama on cable television.
What is the rivalry between Tesla and Edison about in the series?
The series dramatizes the legendary "War of Currents" — Thomas Edison's push for direct current (DC) electricity versus Nikola Tesla and George Westinghouse's alternating current (AC). This battle wasn't just scientific; it was a high-stakes commercial war that would determine who controlled the electrification of an entire nation.
How many episodes does The Men Who Built America have?
The series consists of 4 feature-length episodes, each running approximately two hours. Airing in October 2012 on the History Channel, the miniseries covers the rise of America's industrial titans from the post-Civil War era through the early twentieth century in a single, self-contained season.
Did The Men Who Built America win any awards?
The miniseries earned a Primetime Emmy nomination and was recognized by the Producers Guild of America. Its commercial success — becoming one of the highest-rated programs in History Channel history at the time — led to a wave of similar docudrama productions and a follow-up series, The Men Who Built America: Frontiersmen.
What are similar documentary series to The Men Who Built America?
If you enjoyed this series, American Experience and Frontline offer deep, rigorously researched American history documentaries. The Civil War by Ken Burns is essential viewing for the era that precedes the show's events. Biography and American Masters provide similarly compelling portraits of transformative historical figures.
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