This paper provides a perspective for the analysis of two essential public relations models: corporate and political. Because public relations in its modern form originated in the USA, the developmental history is discussed with reference to America. Societal conditions surrounding the 19th-century American Industrial Revolution paved the way for two dominant models of public relations practice: corporate and political. Industrialization altered the structure of society and gave rise to conditions requiring public relations expertise. As a result, public relations became a specialized function broadly accepted in major corporations in order to counter hostility by courting public support. Success in managing the image and corporate identity was noted rather quickly by politicians, who introduced the techniques and methods of corporate public relations in governmental activities and political campaigns.