The Men Who Built America

About The Men Who Built America

The Men Who Built America is a gripping, eight-part docudrama miniseries aired on the History Channel in 2012. It explores the lives and times towering tycoons like John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, J.P. Morgan, Henry Ford and Cornelius Vanderbilt who shaped and impacted the industry and overall development of the United States. The series delves into their rise to power, their personal and professional struggles, their innovation, and their vision that enabled them to shape the country.

Making / Production

The series was directed by Patrick Reams and Ruán Magan. It was produced by Stephen David Entertainment and aired by the History Channel. With a vivid blend of dramatic reenactments, archival photographs and interviews, these complex and powerful men were brought back to life.

Actors

• Adam Jonas Segaller as Andrew Carnegie: Segaller delivered a fine performance, capturing the complex nature of Carnegie's ambition and humanitarian spirit.
• Eric Rolland as J.P. Morgan: Eric was commendable in his portrayal of the revered financier and banker, showcasing Morgan's power and influence.
• Tim Getman as John D. Rockefeller: Getman portrayed the oil tycoon with a strong presence, shedding light on Rockefeller's business acumen and strategies.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The series was nominated for Primetime Emmy under the category of Outstanding Sound Editing for Nonfiction Programming.
• The factual accuracy of the series has been disputed by some historians, indicating that the series overemphasized the role of individual personalities in history.

Awards

The series, although received well by the audience, did not win any awards. Nevertheless, it was nominated for an Emmy Award for its superior sound editing.

Quotes

• "Capitalism requires constant growth. There's always somebody that's gonna want to eat my lunch." – Andrew Carnegie
• "What some call ruthlessness, I believe to be necessary hardness." – John D. Rockefeller

Music, Soundtrack

• The series came with an intensive music and soundtrack designed by Hans Tammes which complemented the era and the weighty narrative perfectly.