The Rise of Big Business: 1860 - 1920

by Glenn Porter

The fundamental and explosive changes in the U.S. economy and its business system from 1860 to 1920 continue to fascinate and engage historians, economists, and sociologists. While many disagreements persist about the motivations of the actors, most scholars roughly agree on the central shifts in technologies and markets that called forth big business. Recent scholarship, however, has revealed important new insights into the changing cultural values and sensibilities of Americans who lived during the time, on women in business, on the ties between the emerging corporations and other American institutions, on the nature of competition among giant firms, and on the dawn of modern advertising and consumerism.

This vast accumulation of notable new work on the social concept and consequences of economic change in that era has prompted Glenn Porter to recast numerous portions of The Rise of Big Business, one of Harlan Davidson's most successful titles ever, in this, the third edition. Those familiar with this classic text will appreciate the expanded coverage of topics beyond the fray of regulation and the political dimensions of the emergence of concentrated enterprise, namely the influence of the rise of big business on social history.

An entirely new bank of photographs and illustrations rounds out the latest edition of our enduringly popular title, one perfect for supplementary reading in a variety of courses including the U.S. history survey, the history of American business, and specialized courses in social history and the Gilded Age.

Genres: History, Business, American History, Nonfiction, Politics, 19th Century, Economics

162 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Glenn Porter is the Director Emeritus of the Hagley Museum and Library.

Reviews

[The Nutmeg]

(School assignment.) Y'know, this is a solidly good book. A little dry, but that's cuz it's so objective. I wouldn't necessarily go around recommending it to people, but if you're interested in this era, it's worth a read.

[Clara]

Note: This review is of an earlier edition - The Rise of Big Business, 1860-1910, and does not reflect any changes contained in more current editions.

This was a fantastic overview of the beginnings of big business in the second half of the 19th century, with well-placed insights regarding a few decades before and after. Porter expressed all of his ideas concisely, but still repeated them as little reminders as needed so that I never felt lost. The writing was exceptionally engaging, and I now feel that I have a wonderful foundation on which I can build by reading other books about the time period. The bibliographical essay at the end contained a number of helpful resources, including a few books which I know I'll be reading in the future. I would highly recommend this to someone either starting studying this period of history and to those who may know some details but want a larger picture.

[J.M. Hushour]

A fine, if all-too-brief history of how the most nefarious manifestation of shitty, shitty capitalism came to be! You'll be surprised. The legel shenanigans aside, a sober reflection on the evolution of the corporation is a lot less malign (but not much) than you'd think. More a primer on the subject than anything else.

[Noah Candelario]

I recommend this book to readers who wants a concise but in-depth review on the Gilded Age and the Rise of Big Business in the United States. I was surprised by reading this book by how it was able to help me remember the information that I have learned and known about the Gilded Age from my United States History class from years ago. The information can provide context to understanding Microeconomics that did help with my studies. Lastly, I also enjoyed the Sociological and Political consequences that transformed the United States into a Global Superpower prior to the World Wars.

[Nolan Brown]

I liked this book because I am interested in history, I would not recommend this book to everyone however, it would probably not be interesting to someone who is not a history nerd. The information was solid and interesting, not so much the plot, or lack of plot, but this can be forgiven by me as it is a quick read.

[Drew Witte]

It gets a little too moralistic at times, but it overall felt like a decent introduction to the period.

[Joseph]

read this for a class of the history of american business. short and excellent book!

[Nicholas]

Into about the rise of big business and the environment and technologies that lead to its rise.

Scope, scale, communication, separation of ownership and management....

[Sarah]

Short, accessible, to the point. My go-to reference for Victorian Era business history. Thanks, Glenn!