Julian's Secret Chamber Essay

During the post Civil War period many capitalists took over and ramped up industry. There were also individuals who took industries and monopolized them. Many historians who look back at these capitalists who shaped the post Civil War industry argue about whether they should be viewed as captains of industry who developed large industry, or as robber barons who used industry and monopolies to achieve wealth and take advantage of the working class. This essay will show why they were captains of industry.

The Industrial Revolution of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries was arguably the most important turning point in history. It transformed the manufacture of goods from craftsmanship to commercialism, exponentially increasing output and decreasing production cost leading to prosperity and an unprecedented supply of goods for the markets of the world. Industrialization and mass production was the fuel which ignited the flame of capitalism which was already established creating bringing sweeping changes in wealth and its distribution. Within a few generations the very fabric of society was virtually remade as millions left the farms and villages of the countryside for jobs in the cities. This monumental change did not immediately sweep

Industrializing America was the quarter stone that ultimately transitioned this developing nation into a dominating power. The resources and demand for expansion sent a worldwide calling to any and to all who wished to advance themselves in this new world, where opportunities were endless. Indeed many responded to the call, such as the Carnegie family, of which was seeking rebirth to stabilize themselves after losing everything. Fortunately the Carnegies had made the right decision and from that an unexpected industrial giant was soon to emerge. As we know, Andrew Carnegie was amongst the elite, an entrepreneur, a business genius, a revolutionary due to his refinement of steel production and statistically inclined mind. He started from the ground and fought himself to the top of America’s social economic class, as described in Harold C. Livesay, Andrew Carnegie and the Rise of Big Business. As Livesay states “he created that industrial colossus” (pg. vii), and I acknowledge that prominent feature that Carnegie brought to the industrialization, however, there are inconsistencies that leaves the reader uncertain about the stated information.

An American writer, Susan Sontag, stated that capitalism is, “the ideology [which] makes us all into connoisseurs of liberty—of the indefinite expansion of possibility”. From 1850 to 1907, there was a mass immigration to America and the rise of ‘Gilded Age’ which the United States population and economy grew quickly. Capitalism is a social and economic system where both the means of production and any associate trades are privately owned. During 1850 to 1907, there were a number of factors which contributed to the rise of Capitalism such as: significant entrepreneurial figures such as Henry Ford; mass immigration and cheap labour; and Railway and telegraph lines expansion to transport goods to be sold.

Near the last decades of the 19th century, America’s industrial economy skyrocketed. As these industrial leaders like Carnegie and Rockefeller not only lead the expansion through their respective industries, but revolutionized businesses while crushing free-market competition in the process. As

Horace Taylor puts his opinion into prospective with this political cartoon. Businesses became more powerful than the government itself, which was too afraid to interfere in the exploitation. One such exploitation was the creation of corporation. Corporations were designed to limit the liabilities of its shareholders and thusly minimize the loss of capital by criminalizing only the legal entity, rather than its underlying workers. Thusly, legal suits and such became nearly useless against the incorporated. Additionally, as corporations grew unchecked, they found other ways to control competition. The railroad industry, the first big business of America, used pools and rebates to maximize profit but decrease competition – a principal not part of capitalism. Progress was slowed by the lack of competition, but the pursuit of wealth helped maintain it or a time. The trust was similar to a pool, but trusts were far more hierarchal and were used by corporations rather than regions. Having all the power in the world, businesses could grow and do whatever they wanted without worrying about the government ceasing their progress.

The market model of economy, developed by Adam Smith entails a freely flowing economy that places little or not restriction on occupation allowing individuals utmost rights. America took on an ethos of a mixed economy of market and command that struck a successful economic equilibrium. American economy also changes with different periods of history. The Civil War had lit the spark of industrialization needed to enhance the American economy. Technology advanced by leaps and bounds and free labor was done away with to make room for Industrialization and Adam Smith’s market model of capitalism. Capitalism was a promoter of the entrepreneur and individual success. It was only natural that during this time of private interest the gap between rich and poor would be greatly widened and a state of disorder might arise. Capitalism was a new ideology and drastic labor problems and social disorder arose because Americans were simply adjusting to (and taking advantage of) the new system.

This onslaught of capitalism directly revolutionized modern industrialism as well as the industrial city. Machines morphed the predominately agricultural nation to a herd of factory and corporate workers. Swarms of people, both native and immigrant, flocked to major cities. “The present century has been marked by a prodigious increase in wealth-producing power. The utilization of steam and electricity, the introduction of improved processes and labor saving machinery, the greater subdivision and grander scale of production, the wonderful facilitation of exchanges, have multiplied enormously the effectiveness of labor.”(George, p.20) The major problem with this newfound industrialism was the way in which the workforce was treated. Capitalism was supposed to provide a way out, a way ascend the financial and social staircase, if you worked hard enough. This however was not the case, if you were a loyal, hardworking employee you simply got to keep your job, and if you were in any way injured or incompetent you were fired.

Industrialization took place in American society between 1865 and 1914 in a time period known as the Gilded Age. During this period, the American economy had changed dramatically. For example, factories were producing a mass production of goods. Many Americans were able to obtain more goods for a lower price. The factories were worked on by the working class and the poor. The workers were able to produce new inventions that would change the way Americans lived in society. These new inventions would result in immigrants coming to the United States both for job opportunities and to live a better life. In addition, the new inventions had a positive impact on the Industrialists. One example of an industrialist is John D Rockefeller. Rockefeller made a fortune in the oil industry. Rockefeller used horizontal integration to purchase many other oil industries into one Standard Oil Company. Rockefeller was one of the wealthiest men in America during this time. However, the mass production of goods and new inventions had a negative impact on the poor and the working class. For instance, the workers had to work long hours in the factories under poor conditions for little pay. During this time, this was considered a sweatshop. Additionally, workers had to live in towns close to the factory known as a company town. This town consisted of the company, housing, and stores for people to shop. Many of the people who lived in these towns were poor due to the low wages in the factories. Also,

The “big-business” that was invented in Industrial Age changed the American economy and culture. The increase in wealth increased the standards of living for all citizens and drew in immigrants from around the world to partake in the American Dream. The times of totally free enterprise with little to no regulation by government allowed monopolies

In the early 1900’s Industrialization boosted the economy, giving rise to capitalism and gave the upper hand to monopolized corporations. As stated by David Oshinsky, in Imbeciles’ and ‘Illiberal Reformers New

We live in a world controlled by an invisible yet very present force that shapes the way we live our daily lives. With industry as its host and technology as the blood being pumped into its heart, it is a force powerful enough to bend politics to fit its needs. Capitalism; a method of industry where production and distribution are privately or corporately owned, its operation grows through profits, exploitation of labor, and extinguishing competition. During the Industrial Revolution technology was on the global stage. Factories and machines are built in existing cities producing and distributing mass goods on a global scale. Over time this fast production of goods would replace the old agricultural economy to a modern urban economy. Today the revolution is praised for creating a global trade market while surging us into a world of technology.

“As the growth of industrial development increased so did the accumulation of massive industries and corporations”. This had changed The United States of America into being urbanized instead of being a rural area. Then many businessmen like Andrew Carnegie, John D Rockefeller, and Cornelius Vanderbilt had big industrial tycoons which had a massive benefit for them and for their society because they had an increase in mass production which ultimately changed the face of the United States of America from being a rural society into being an urban society.

Throughout the book An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith uses the term “commercial society” rather than more accustomed words like “capitalism.” Smith explains what he means by this term,

This is to say that, if everyone in society was on the same level their would be no need for motivation.Often times persons feel down and hopeless, and when persons who were originally from the poorer class in society share their life experiences regarding how they became successful, it motivates and inspires those individuals to work harder.. Furthermore, it there was no conflict in society the society could not function. For example; if everyone was a bank manager, how would we get our food to eat. So it can be said that society is controlled by the benefit of one group of from the other, because without farmers and hunters there would be no food to eat. Additionally, not all capitalists act out of self-interest and lower-class individuals who want to succeed can do so through hard work. Its not in all cases that the upper class individuals take advantage of the lower class. In some instances they push their workers to get a higher education, but the persons are not willing to push themselves. It can be proven that if one knows what he/she wants in life, the only way to it is through hard work. Many persons, however, are lazy and so they never move up on the social