The miniseries ‘American Capitalism – The Cult of Wealth’ offers an engaging look at the history of system economy in the United States, from the end of the 19th century to the present day.
Composed of three episodes directed by Cédric Tourbe, the work delves into the complexities of the current system, highlighting both aspects of opulence and prosperity, as well as the deep social inequalities that characterize American society.
Throughout the episodes, we are led to explore the emergence and consolidation of the monetary power and political influence of local elite families in the late 19th century.
The narrative also addresses the period of the so-called ‘welfare state’ in the 20th century, when government policies were implemented to mitigate socioeconomic disparities.
Rockefeller and his son, Rockefeller Jr. – Image: Like!/Reproduction
The episodes also portray the turn to the 21st century, marked by the rise of Silicon Valley’s new millionaires, highlighting the transformations and challenges brought about by the digital era.
The naked capitalism portrayed in the series
In the opening episode, titled ‘The Millionaire’s Paradise’, we are transported to the beginnings of the Industrial Revolution in U.S.
This period was marked by great transformations and the rise of tycoons, such as John Davison Rockefeller, JP Morgan and Andrew Carnegie.
At that time, New York emerged as a rapidly expanding urban center, driven by the booming real estate sector and the emergence of powerful industries.
Among these sectors, the steel, automobile, railway and others were dominated by the big businessmen of the time.
However, the prosperity of these empires began to be shaken by a series of challenges, including the implementation of anti-monopoly laws, strict taxation policies, and events such as World War I and the stock market crash of 1929.
Although such crises do not represent the end of the American elite clans, they mark the emergence of two opposing factions: the liberals, defenders of the New Deal and their efforts to revive the economy of the country, and the conservatives.
For those interested, the work is scheduled to premiere on March 1st, next Friday, on the streaming platform Curta!.