Gilded Age True Story: How Long The Old vs. New Money Feud Lasted

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Warning: SPOILERS for The Gilded Age.

With the old ns. new money feud alive and well in The Gilded Age, it's easy to wonder just how long this power-struggle endured throughout United States history. While the show has been related to Julian Fellowes' previous period drama, Downton Abbey, The Gilded Ageis different in that it focuses more on how various families wield their money instead of how those in power flaunt their various royal titles. With such a deeply rooted system of establishing status in an ever-changing world, the effects will certainly ripple down generationally.

With her Dutch heritage backing her, Mrs. Astor was descended from some of the original settlers of New York City. As the gatekeeper into the city's high society, Mrs. Astor exemplified what it meant to be a part of, as Agnes van Rhijn so confidently proclaims, "old New York." Meanwhile, people who have made their fortunes more recently, like the railroad tycoon, George Russell, are considered to be of new money and are not easily let into high society. In The Gilded Age episode 1, Larry Russell (Harry Richardson), Gladys Russell (Taissa Farmiga), and Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson), gather together at Bertha Russell's party, thrown to impress the likes of those that are a part of old New York. As they witness the feud unfolding during a scuffle between Bertha and Aurora Fane (Kelli O'Hara), the Russell's son offers this to Gladys and Marian: "Let the three of us be friends, in spite of everything."

Related: The Gilded Age True Story: Why Mrs. Astor's Family Is So Powerful

During a time when everyone who wanted to cement themselves in history needed to play into the games set by people like Mrs. Astor, the reality is, the old vs. new money feud