Progressivism In The Film 'Robber Barons'

While they were only getting richer with their corrupt methods, the poorer classes were getting poorer because of the money they spent on the capitalists’ goods. In “The Robber Barons of Today, 1889”, the robber barons are seen with their “knightly” attire while the poor pay “tribute” to them. (Doc D) It represents the poor paying the “amazing” capitalists and being subservient for the goods they need. Also, in Henry George’s Progress and Poverty, 1879, it said that the gulf between the classes is getting wider and wider. Because of the industrial tycoons taking the poor’s money, they are getting richer. They are also providing fewer jobs since the industries usually have one major company for a particular manufacturing, and so “the poorer class is becoming more dependent” on the capitalists to provide jobs and goods. (Doc A) The robber barons took the poor’s money to become wealthier and to feed their greed while worsening the gap between the social

The anonymously written “A Workingman’s Prayer for the Masses”, was a sarcastic response to Carnegie’s “The Gospel of Wealth”. The beginning of the prayer, “Oh, Almighty Andrew Philanthropist Library Carnegie, who art in America when not in Europe spending the money of your slaves and serfs…” (Doc 1), was a representation of the caustic view the working class had toward Carnegie’s “Gospel”. Another representation of the plight of the working poor is reflected in the drawing “Capital and Labour” by John Leech (Doc 4). In this cynical drawing, the wealthy are shown enjoying a relaxed, elegant lifestyle, while the working class are shown toiling underground, hidden from the view of the

They looked through the gold plated window into the Carnegie mansion and dreamed of a better life. However, due to the greed of the tycoons, the unsafe conditions of their workplaces, and their low wages, most could not achieve that dream. Tycoons of the late 1800’s are robber barons because of the disregard they expressed for their worker’s fundamental rights, mainly their quality of

The rise of big business began right after the Civil War and during the Industrial Revolution. These businesses would monopolize their competition and exploit others for their sake. The Captains of Industry at the time of the Gilded Age were characterized as “robber barons” who were willing to do anything for wealth and power. The term robber baron means a person who has become rich through ruthless and corrupt business tactics. These robber barons used extreme methods to control and concentrate their wealth and power by lacking morals, using intimidation, bribery, fraud and by being blinded by the fact that what they are doing is for the greater good.

The late 1800’s and early 1900’s a new era had commenced; the rise of unprecedented fortunes and unprecedented poverty, loosening social mores, unsanitary food production, the onrush of foreign immigration, environmental destruction—confronted Americans. The rise of fortunes came the rise of the keepers of fortunes, one of which was Andrew Carnegie. His business, which became known as the Carnegie Steel Company, revolutionized steel production in the United States. Carnegie built plants around the country, using technology and methods that made manufacturing steel easier, faster and more productive. For every step of the process, he owned exactly what he needed: the raw materials, ships and railroads for transporting the goods, and even coal fields to fuel the steel furnaces. There are two sides to every person, especially one with money, Captains of Industry and Robber Baron. A Captain of Industry, is a leader in their field. The money their companies generates does not go to them and only them, but they focus on helping the economy, less fortunate, and giving back to the community; creating wealth. The juxtaposition of a Captain of Industry is a Robber Baron. They focus their efforts on benefits for themselves, at the expense of workers, communities and economies.

In the Gilded Age when America was forging an industrial society, some were becoming extremely wealthy, while some were very poor and couldn’t do anything about it. The capitalists who shaped post-Civil War industrial America should be characterized as corrupt “robber barons”.

The late 1800s was a time where the American way of life was still developing, including the government. The acquiescent government was certainly not the best. They were unfair in many ways. Businesses were corrupt due to Robber Barons, and the loyal citizens were greatly affected. If the government was ruled by transcendentalists, then they would rule with intuition over reason. If the government was ruled by Robber Barons, then there would certainly be more corruption occurring in the country. The government gave a lot of unnecessary subsidies to businesses who ended up failing. The more active participation from the government and a better relationship with the citizens of America would have posolutely ensured the most successful America.

It was not uncommon in 1920’s and 30’s film and literature to allude to the ostentatious capitalist figures of the times. Figures like

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, America struggled with finding comfort and equality through mass industrial maltreatment, political duels, and hypocrisies; this point in time is what historians named Progressive Era (1890- 1920). In this era, it was believed that America was in dire need of improvement in areas such as the economy, government, and social justice. Progressivism contributed in changing how people viewed government and inspired many to fight for their right to be; however, progressivism was subject to bias, being influenced by Christian morals, which featured racial, ethnic, and class prejudices. Still the people took action and ignited reforms across the nation that changed the texture of American society

Since the nineteenth and twentieth century, there has always been a division between the wealthy and unfortunate. During these times the higher class continued to prosper while the lower class remained at the bottom, the separation continues to grow. Three men vocalize their views on the social division, capitalism, and individualism. Andrew Carnegie, an industrialist, believed the rich should distributed their wealth to benefit society while they’re alive. Carnegie elaborates this idea in his article, The Gospel of Wealth, written in 1889. Russell Conwell, a philanthropist, expresses in his speech, Acres of Diamonds, men should utilize their surrounding opportunities to make themselves wealthy. Edward Bellamy, a socialist, wrote Look Backward about a wealthy young man, Julian West, who enters hypnotic sleep in 1887 and awakes 113 years later. Although, the men state similar matters their views contrast, Carnegie and Conwell would most likely be critical to Bellamy’s vision.

Money Makes the world go around. Is a very common phrase that we hear often. The Robber Baron were individual whom represent the phrase a lot. A Robber Baron were businessmen in the United States Industrial Revolution of the 1800's who were wealthy by taking people’s land, money, or someone else business in a rather dishonest way. They are knowledgeable about their ways but only interested in getting more more money. Robber Barons are called so because of their greed and ruthlessness, their unethical business practices, and their total lack of concern for their workers, their customers or their competitors. An example of a robber baron in that time will be Andrew Carnegie, JD Rockefeller, and JP Morgan. The Robber Baron made the American

Mr. Butler represents capitalistic society taking advantage of the common people: Mr. Haskins and his family. After Mr. Haskins had worked towards purchasing the farm from Mr. Butler, he is met with resistance in the form of an unexpected price increase, to which he rebuts, “But you’ve done nothing to make it so. You hain’t added a cent. I put it all there myself, expectin’ to buy” (Garland 761). Garland, as if to emphasize the element of naturalism, writes, “Butler laughed” and has Butler respond to Mr. Haskins, “The law will sing another tune” (Garland 761).

Michael Moore states in his film that we are now living in sick times, a time where financial profit is more important than human lives. That is not true although in the 1950s were “Pleasantville” is set. It is an Idyllic time where structure, laws and family values are widespread throughout the land; it is more highlighted to be golden age as we are subjected to David and Jennifer’s modern world, a world very similar to our own where the college counsellor shatters dreams, the health teachers labels the act of non-monogamous relations as dangerous and deadly and to add insult to injury the science teacher warns of further catastrophe as the ozone layer depletes, the stunned students in this world look to a future of despair. Even though

     The corruption of idealism by wealth can be seen throughout the film, especially through the thoughts

The struggle of an individual in a class alienated society is emphasised by presenting two disparate classes: the bourgeois and the proletariat. The bourgeois are describes by the narrator as ‘titans and their gigantic wives’ who ‘drink barrels of champagne and bellow at each other wearing diamonds bigger than I feel’. The exaggeration used adds to the cynical tone to mock the elements of the bourgeois, but also suggests the hollowness of their wealth and how they possess greater than the narrator can grasp. The narrator in comparsion feels like a ‘cockroach’ shown in the description; they ‘just want to see you run around their money…they know they can’t threaten you with the tip, to them