Robber Barons Research Paper

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, during the climax of the American Industrial Revolution, there was a small group of men who owned the major businesses and were leaders of their industries. They owned factories, railroads, banks, and even created company towns for the sole purpose of housing their workers. Due to the efforts of these few men, the U.S. economy became the envy of the world, and America became a leading world power. They provided the public with products that were in high demand for reasonable prices, and opened their markets to countries overseas. Although many people believe the early industrialists were Robber Barons who exploited the poor, these great men were truly Captains of Industry who created new ways of doing

During the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century, both robber barons and captains of industry were terms used to place businessmen into a good or bad category. The term robber baron is a representation of industrialist who used manipulative methods in order to reach enormous quantities of wealth. Some characteristics of robber barons were: they depleted America of its valuable resources, forced authority to pass laws that would work in there favor, make opponents in the industry go out of business, and force laborers to work in hazardous circumstances with little pay. The term captains of industry meant the exact opposite, these businessmen did positive things in order to reach enormous quantities of wealth. Some characteristics of captains of industry were: they constructed factories to make the accessibility of goods rise, increased production, developed markets, gave to charity, and created more jobs with generous pay. While many historians believe that the industrialist of the 19th century were captains of industry there are others that would object and say that they were indeed robber barons. Would you consider the great industrialist of the 19th century to be robber barons or would you consider them as captains of the industry?

In “Taking Sides” Howard Zinn and Andrew S. Gordon argue yes or no to believe if the 19th century entrepreneurs “Robber Baron”? The late nineteenth century is best known for its exceptional growth in extensive business. Across the nation, little organizations were being supplanted by titan partnerships and mechanical combinations, prompting another, uncommon level of riches for the business visionaries who created them. With the increment in enormous business came another level of riches that had never been seen. They likewise mercilessly separated unions and strikes and, to guarantee that their power would not be taken from them, they paid off city, state, and national government officials to stay great to huge organizations. The late nineteenth century prompted more political corruption and oppression that the United States had ever found in the work environment, which is the reason these specialists were truth be told robber barons, not the chiefs of industry they wished to depict themselves as. Howard Zinn argues that 19th century entrepreneurs were robber barons because new industrialist for example Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, and J.P. Morgan endorse business practices that support monopolies and had the government to control the mass rebellions. John S. Gordon believes they were not. He states that big

A robber baron is defined as, “an unscrupulous plutocrat, especially an American capitalist who acquired a fortune in the late nineteenth century by ruthless means.” Two famous robber barons are James Fisk and Jay Gould.

It is evident that there are many subjects and controversies that one could choose to discuss, but the conversation of who actually put forth more work than the other is pretty significant. Many people believe that it was the Robber Barons that did all of the work in the businesses that made them what they were, but this essay is here for your sake to hopefully help those who believe this that not only was is the laborer that did all the work, but they created the very essence of what business and working conditioner should look like. The business laborers of the 19th century were put through hell to try to please the man that controlled the entire company; there were many unfair working conditions that workers faced, and many children whose school education was put

1. Explain whom Vanderbilt, Carnegie and Rockefeller are. Should industrialists like Vanderbilt, Carnegie, and Rockefeller be viewed as “robber barons” or “captains of industry”? Define “robber barons” and “captains of industry. Analyze your perspective as fully as you can.

Truth be told, both authors made quite compelling arguments on both sides of the spectrum. However, Zinn made his argument more swaying, in my opinion. These nineteenth century entrepreneurs most definitely could be described as “robber barons.” I say this, in agreement with Zinn because of the fact that the owners of these corporations (namely Standard Oil and U.S. Steel) were able to monopolize the industrial revolution with government aids, as well. Let’s start with J.P. Morgan. Nothing gets more corrupt than the fact that Morgan purchased rifles for $3.50 from an army arsenal and then turned to a general to sell them for $22. Anything to make a quick buck, I guess. Now, back to the massive companies. These companies were able to make so much money by hiring outside (immigrant) labor for a fraction of what they would pay an American worker. They received government subsidies and were greatly benefitted by the tariffs

The old saying you have to crack a few eggs to make an omelet holds true for the captains of industry or the so-called robber barons. Although the captains of industry drove some people and businesses into the ground; ultimately the captains of industry made the United States and the rest of the world a better place. Granted, many of the captains of industry used questionable business practiced that drove their profits to unprecedented levels. In addition, these captains of industry had many government officials under their thumbs, which only increased their income further. However, these same men founded and donated to colleges and universities, one of these millionaires donated to black colleges, and others created libraries (Zinn 53). In

They were overly concerned with making profit; far more than the health of their workers. The cheaper the labor cost and the cost of sustaining a clean atmosphere; the more profit the owners would get. This led to a filthy and perilous working environment. The meat packing industry may have been the worst. It had high productivity, but its condition declined to the point of being hazardous to both the workers and consumers.

The industrialists at the turn of the 20th Century best deserve the title of Captains of Industry. These industrialists were very successful people. They acted smart, and they tried very hard, in order to reach wealth. They had a huge impact in the society and in the world of business. They transformed the industry. They provided jobs to so many people. Even though it was true that their workers ended up working in harsh conditions for long hours most of the time, considering the number of people looking for jobs, and the economy at the time period can help to explain these conditions. The industrialists were not just selfish people. The industrialists actually was aware of their communities needs, and they were thoughtful. Although they knew

By allowing businessmen such as John D. Rockefeller, J.P. Morgan, and Andrew Carnegie to create monopolies in certain industries, the government allowed the oppression of the nation’s working class. The second half of the 19th century saw major changes in the working world, with new inventions, increasing populations, and bigger businesses. The Barons seized their opportunity in this new economic setting and made large fortunes. However these fortunes came at the expense of the working class, which received biased wages that depended on factors such as race, gender, and ethnic background. With decreased wages, the Barons had larger profit margins, and longer hours meant more production.

Gone were the days when industrialization was the prime origin and a new age of economic boom in our country. This was a period where factories were established, provision of jobs being vastly increased for Americans, big machines and buildings built to accommodate and the exploit the opportunity and moment at hand. Due to this sudden improvement, food manufactures being the primary industry and instrumental in their clever ways; developed a way to profit by reducing workers, encouraged unsanitary habits and unscrupulous ways which resulted as a disastrous blow to the public. This bad habit in the food industry (primarily the meat factories) in late 1800s to early 1900s aroused one of the most controversial novel (expose) “The Jungle” by Upton Sinclair, and yet thrilling insight with details as to what was going on in the meat industry. Upton Sinclair describes the frightful and dangerous working conditions of one meat packing facility in Chicago, thus far these conditions were common to all facilities which led to laws that changed the bad patterns of these manufactures.

When Industries are rising, many people become a proletariat for the industries who were replaced by machines .They use to farm a large area around the village and each of the field are the responsible of the people who live around the village. But, now that industries are rising, some of those people are force out of their homes and live to a nearby industry. Because new technologies are being develop that helps farming and increase production, those people who left their previous home are now looking for work just to keep on living. Because of the new technologies are being used, workers are forced to breathe to unclean air. The industries are producing an unhealthy environment to the workers and causing lots of sickness to the workers. Because of the rise in industries, workers are forced to work on those conditions just to earn

They have been useful in providing muscle to manage labor unions. They’ve also served as anonymous services to the public for a variety of illegal products. Japan’s residences are aware of the yakuza’s overwhelming presence and the accommodations between the criminal syndicates, police, government, and political parties. In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, the yakuza moved into the profitable narcotics trade and recently have intensified their trade in firearms, other contraband and human trafficking. Yakuza have formed alliances and working relationships with Chinese Triads, Sicilian and American Mafia, Columbian drug cartels, Jamaican Posses, and other criminal organizations throughout the world, according to ____. Boryokudan syndicates have become involved in securities exchange business with the goal to gather a larger income in a shorter period of time. Start-up companies are targeted whose volume of stocks in circulation and stocks traded in the market is small and intervene in trading by altering the price to gather profits ranging in the thousands to millions of

Corruption in the government and economy was caused by wealthy men who gained wealth through unethical practices. Although these men were responsible for high efficiency of their particular industry, these men are referred as Robber Barons to describe them as wealthy businessmen who unethically gains wealth and power. For example, Jay Gould and Jim