Robber Barons Dbq

On February 9th, 1859, editor of the New York Times, Henry Raymond, pronounced something unusual about Cornelius Vanderbilt. Raymond disliked Vanderbilt, a steamship magnate with such an extensive convoy that he was commonly known as the Commodore, the highest position in the US Navy. In the article “Your Money of Your Line,” Raymond attacked Vanderbilt for stealing a substantial monthly payment from the Pacific Mail Steamship Company which was in exchange for Vanderbilt’s preceding antagonism on the sea lanes to California. Carnegie, Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, and Morgan fit into the concept of the Gilded Age because they all embody the ideas of robber barons or captains of industry. These individuals all helped to create the huge corporation

Typically, the capitalist leaders of the Industrial Revolution were considered robber barons. This was because, in comparison, the majority of the population was poor. The common misconception is that the “robber barons” were the cause of horrible working conditions and unfair labor practices. The capitalist captains of the Industrial Revolution created many job opportunities, built industries that benefited the economy, and used their money in philanthropist ways. The industrial leaders post-Civil War should be considered captains of industry because they helped put the U.S. on the road to economic success.

In a book published in 1991 by Burt Folsom, The Myth of the Robber Barons is essentially a book about two theories competing against one another, which is the political versus the market entrepreneurs. The book adamantly persuades the reader into believing market entrepreneurship has provided Americans with greater results versus political entrepreneurs featuring from real life scenarios to back up Mr. Folsom claims. He pointed out several market entrepreneurs in his book such as J.D. Rockefeller, Cornelius Vanderbilt, James Hill and Charles Schwab as ones who helped changed the economic climate for Americans by providing superior and lower-cost products and/or services than its competitors. Mr. Folsom continued to shine light on several political

A Review of The Myth of the Robber Barons a book by Burton Folsom JR.

From 1865 to 1900, a surge in industry and business began to come into effect. Railroads, oil, steel, and various inventions enabled the rise of these businesses. As time went on, the leaders of the businesses would become more eager to achieve wealth. Some historians have described these people as ‘robber barons’ or people who use extreme methods to control and maintain their wealth and power. Others would chastise that belief, declaring that it is an unjust conclusion to draw. Despite the oppositions fervent belief, the undeniable evidence supports the belief that many of the businessmen in the late 19th century were ‘robber barons’. These men had a blatant disregard for human lives and an unquenchable urge to assume control over citizens’ lives that instilled corruption and greed in them.

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.

This investigation will assess whether the industrial leaders, such as, Andrew Carnegie, John Pierpont Morgan and John Davison Rockefeller were perceived as captains of industry or robber barons. In order to evaluate this claim, the investigation will analyze their major contributions to American Society; how they treated their workers in the factory; and why people questioned their honesty because of the techniques they used to eliminate their competitors. Mostly secondary sources were used, as well as some primary sources. Two of the sources used in this essay are The Robber Barons: The Great American Capitalists by Matthew Josephson and Wisdom from the Robber Barons: Enduring Business Lessons from Rockefeller, Morgan, and the First Industrialists by George D. Smith which will be evaluated for their origins, purposes, values, and limitations.

The Gilded Age was an interesting time where the government implemented a laissez faire stance on companies and the economic world. Due to this stance there would be a frequent amount of unethical actions and policies applied to common practice for larger business. The bigger unethical players in the game included: the railroads, Tammany Hall, and even the Federal government itself.

The Gilded Age is a brief time in American history in which the United States experienced a population and rapid economic expansion. Mark Twain named it the “Gilded Age” as this was after the Civil War, lasting from 1870 - 1900. Although, this name was ironic as “gilded” is a term used to describe something that was covered in gold, by this he meant that the Gilded Age was whitewashed but was full of corruption. It shows how the social factors (as seen in documents A,B,C and D), economic factors (as seen in documents G), and political factors (as seen in documents E, H and I)

There were many big businessmen in the Gilded Age, some used their wealth to help the country, others did not. In the Gilded Age, there was exponential economic growth: increase in population, better transportation, new technology, and new business ideas. Entrepreneurs thrived in this time, these businessmen were thought of a captains of industry or robber barons. Most people thought that they were captains of industry because of the good they did for the country. Entrepreneurs such as John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, and Henry Ford all helped their economy in some way.

Describe the relationship between the rise of big businesses and the development of the Gilded Age in America. Cite both positives and negatives between the two movements. Give specific examples.

The Gilded Age was the last three decades of the nineteenth century, when America’s industrial economy exploded generating opportunities for individuals but also left many workers struggling for survival. With the many immigrants, skilled and unskilled, coming to America the labor system is becoming flooded with new employees. During this period, the immigrants, including the Italians, were unskilled and the skilled workers were usually American-born. There was also a divide in the workers and the robber barons. Robber barons were American capitalist who acquired great fortunes in the last nineteenth century, usually ruthlessly. There was much turmoil throughout the business and labor community. Two major organizations, the Knights of

     Let us first look at Mr. Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie was a mogul in the steel industry. Carnegie

Industry was booming in the late 1900’s! Never before had there been such an overwhelming amount of goods production, and industry took flight! Without the chains of law holding companies back, large businesses eventually got even larger and would give the money they had made to the less fortunate! In this essay, I’d like to discuss the clearly overwhelming positive side to the industrial age of society. Industrial Tycoons were something that benefited society greatly.

After the end of the Civil War, industrialization and urbanization blossomed and changed the nation. Instead of presidential power, men were aiming to be industrial tycoons for their wealth and power. To the people, these capitalists were regarded as either admirable “captains of industry” or corrupt “robber barons”. Even though to some people they may seem like “captains of industry”, but they were actually corrupt “robber barons” for several reasons regarding corruption, employee issues, and matters of the social classes.