This program traces the economic transformation of America from the late nineteenth century until the onset of the Great Depression in 1929.
This period witnessed the United States becoming the richest nation on the planet. The lubricant that transformed the nation was oil, and it would eventually power the twentieth century. The Hamilton brothers (Al and Kirt) hit the gusher that changed America in Texas on January 10, 1901. Their discovery at Spindletop led to a geyser shooting 50 feet of black gold into the sky.
One man will accelerate the use of oil: Henry Ford. His mass production of automobiles in 1913 with the assembly line system will usher in a new method of manufacturing. The episode was successful in dramatizing how unprepared were Americans for the new mode of transportation: the earliest drivers would shout out "Whoah!" to the car when turning a curve, as they did not yet recognize how brakes worked and were relying on their old method of talking to their horses!
The large sign "Hollywoodland" goes up in Los Angeles. It will not be the movies, but a ruthless commissioner of the water company that turns Los Angeles into a new mecca of wealth. William Mulholland traveled up to the Owens Valley where he realized that a massive lake could supply water to the Los Angeles basin. Through 223 miles of steel pipe, the water could be diverted. After five years and 5,000 men's efforts, the largest water project in the world was finished in 1913. That's Chinatown, Jake!
The Great Migration led African-Americans from South to relocate to the North, including Detroit and Chicago. In 1919, a race riot began on the beaches of Chicago. After eight bloody days, 38 people were dead. Clearly, the North as well as the South was separate but not equal. Still, Oscar Stanton de Priest is the first black Congressman in the North, coming out of Chicago and serving from 1929-35.
Billy Sunday is the charismatic preacher who crusades against booze. On October 28, 1919, Congress passed the Volstead Act, and the prohibition of liquor went into effect in 1920. Miss Willie Carter Sharp is a skilled rum-runner, driving a souped-up "muzzle" car to outrun the police. Franklin City, Virginia is the site of one of the largest moonshine operations.
The shocking St. Valentine's Day Massacre in Chicago is the breaking point that leads to the government to step in. Calvin Hooker Goddard's forensic crime lab will seek to indict Al Capone for the atrocities.
This period witnessed the United States becoming the richest nation on the planet. The lubricant that transformed the nation was oil, and it would eventually power the twentieth century. The Hamilton brothers (Al and Kirt) hit the gusher that changed America in Texas on January 10, 1901. Their discovery at Spindletop led to a geyser shooting 50 feet of black gold into the sky.
One man will accelerate the use of oil: Henry Ford. His mass production of automobiles in 1913 with the assembly line system will usher in a new method of manufacturing. The episode was successful in dramatizing how unprepared were Americans for the new mode of transportation: the earliest drivers would shout out "Whoah!" to the car when turning a curve, as they did not yet recognize how brakes worked and were relying on their old method of talking to their horses!
The large sign "Hollywoodland" goes up in Los Angeles. It will not be the movies, but a ruthless commissioner of the water company that turns Los Angeles into a new mecca of wealth. William Mulholland traveled up to the Owens Valley where he realized that a massive lake could supply water to the Los Angeles basin. Through 223 miles of steel pipe, the water could be diverted. After five years and 5,000 men's efforts, the largest water project in the world was finished in 1913. That's Chinatown, Jake!
The Great Migration led African-Americans from South to relocate to the North, including Detroit and Chicago. In 1919, a race riot began on the beaches of Chicago. After eight bloody days, 38 people were dead. Clearly, the North as well as the South was separate but not equal. Still, Oscar Stanton de Priest is the first black Congressman in the North, coming out of Chicago and serving from 1929-35.
Billy Sunday is the charismatic preacher who crusades against booze. On October 28, 1919, Congress passed the Volstead Act, and the prohibition of liquor went into effect in 1920. Miss Willie Carter Sharp is a skilled rum-runner, driving a souped-up "muzzle" car to outrun the police. Franklin City, Virginia is the site of one of the largest moonshine operations.
The shocking St. Valentine's Day Massacre in Chicago is the breaking point that leads to the government to step in. Calvin Hooker Goddard's forensic crime lab will seek to indict Al Capone for the atrocities.
