Robber Barons: The Captains Of Industry

There were many conflicting views during the Gilded Age. Some viewed those at the top of the socio-economic ladder as robber-barons due to the vast amount of wealth that never seemed to extend to the workers in terms of salary or safety. However, some called them captains of industries, those who bettered the economy and the lives of workers. These people had an enormous positive impact on the country’s businesses and philanthropy on American economy and society. They transformed America into the most powerful industrial nation, leading the country’s charge by building powerful industries.

During the late 1800’s and early 1900’s America began to industrialize the majority of the country bringing forth industrial giants like Andrew Carnegie and his steel company along with John D. Rockefeller and his Standard Oil Company. Howard Zinn, author of A People’s History of the United States, referred to these industrial giants as “robber barons.” A “robber baron” could be defined as an American capitalist who would do whatever in order to prosper. Carnegie and Rockefeller were considered “robber barons” due to the fact that they held oil and steel industry monopolies. Those monopolies gave them the ability to overpower other companies, robbing them of an opportunity to make their own fortunes, which limited the growth of a capitalist

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.

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

In the late 1800’s America’s industry was on the rise, in this completely new era many factories were born and introduced to the American people. Many people also had to help build railways as well as many other ways to help transport or make goods, this would help build industrial America. But many people would face crucial conditions working in factory, it was unsafe for many people, even some young children who had to work faced a lot of injuries. Not only this, but many people would be out of work because the factories were taking over the work force. One of the most successful people in this time period was John D. Rockefeller, he owned 90% of refineries in America, he made his living by selling, transporting, and refining oil.

Andrew Carnegie. Who was he? Was he just a robber baron or a captain of industry. Andrew was a self made Entrepreneur in the late 1800s. He was the owner of the Carnegie Steel Company which monopolized the steel industry. In 1889 he wrote the famous “Gospel of Wealth” which made the use of libraries to give to the worthy poor that were smart to use them. He also gave away 350 million dollars. On the other side Carnegie’s steel workers were treated poorly by long working hours and reduced wages. He also gave support to the plant manager Henry Frick who hired Pinkerton thugs to intimidate workers on strike and many were killed in the conflict. Andrew Carnegie was sometimes saw as a robber baron taking others money to give away not spending his own money On the other hand people saw him as a captain of industry giving to the worthy poor with libraries and millions of dollars.

The Myth of Robber Barons discusses some of the major entrepreneurs in of the United States from 1850 to 1910. Burton Folsom also discusses these entrepreneur’s key role in their fields and the whole economy of the United States. The entrepreneurs discussed are Commodore Vanderbilt, James J. Hill, The Scranton’s Group, Charles Schwab, John D. Rockefeller, and Andrew Mellon. We know these men as “Robber Barons,” but Folsom argues that these entrepreneurs succeeded by producing quality product and service at a competitive price. He compares so called “Robber Barons” to the political entrepreneurs who rely heavily on government subsidy and make no improvement.

The Gilded Age was a time in American history when some of the most famous industrialists rose to power. These industrialists made good decisions and bad decisions which reflected them as Captains of Industry or Robber Barons. A Captain of Industry is used to describe someone who contributes positively to society. Robber Barons are businessmen who use unethical or questionable ways to gain power/wealth. Both terms were expressed during this time period by businessmen. The great industrialists of the Gilded Age show traits of being both Captains of Industry and Robber Barons.

Money makes the world go around so that people could either become rich or poor. The whole issue with businesses came up in the 18th-19th century and was created by two factions in US history, the Robber Barons and the Captains of Industry. These two are what made the way America’s economy it is today. The Robber Barons and the Captains of industry were both very similar but completely different with how they operated in the economic world. Robber Barons made wealth in a variety of ways but still maintained the sense of thieves from the way they attained their wealth and treated their people hence forth their name. The Robber Barons were considered a unlikable form of business because of the effect they had a negative effect on the

The Gilded Age, from 1877 to 1900, was a period in history that showed the vast changes in the population and economy. However, underneath the surface of the seemingly improved society, many people were victims of corruption and unstable living conditions. The wealthy industrialists of the 19th century were rightfully named robber barons due to their low wages, unsafe working conditions, and the treatment of children in the work force.

The Gilded Age was the period of transformation in the economy, technology, government, and social customs of America. Robber Barons were businessmen who used unfair tactics to help the union. The people who had jobs were struggling to the fact that they have low pay and working condition is bad. So many people were struggling because of these low cut pays. Also, little kids had to work but did not get paid, these kids should not have been working since they let them work they at least should have paid them for their hard work and dedication. Robber Barons used unfair tactics by giving poor working condition, low paychecks, and child labor.

Who wants to be a millionaire? The answers simple, apparently all of the bright men within the nineteenth century during the attractive booming economy. Whereas, the Gilded Age struck the people after the Civil War and the revolution of the railways brought with it, a spur of industrialization. The markets for manufactured goods were stimulated, more commerce was beckoned with foreign and domestic investors, and even the process of raw materials going to the factories was sped. Although sounding like a luxurious period for all, the main beneficiaries became know as the robber barons as they manipulated the public and business to their needs, established the visible social classes, and used laborers with little discretion for age.

The American Industrial Revolution at the turn of the 20th century brought about a big change to the way the United States operated. It called for long work hours, and high output. The Industrial revolution was influenced by the men known as, “The Robber Barons” or “The Captains of Industry.” These men Included; Cornelius Vanderbilt, John Davison Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, John Pierpont Morgan, and Andrew William Mellon. These Captains of Industry and Robber Barons would never have gained the level of influence and power that they had achieved if they had not acquired great wealth.

Captains of Industry were very important in the reconstruction of America after the Civil War. These people’s fortunes impacted the country very positively in its time of need.

Is there a difference between the names “Robber Baron” and “Captains of the Industry”? A robber baron was a negative title contrived by the citizens from the Gilded Age about some of the businessmen. These entrepreneurs made their fortune by questionable means. They took advantage of everyone else to raise themselves on a social level. Even though in this century what they did was unethical, there were no laws to prevent these actions made by the robber barons. However, the men may have been mistakenly denominated. Perhaps, some of these deceiving gentlemen were captains of the industry instead of robber barons. A captain of the industry was a business leader who had ethical intentions to acquire enough personal fortune to support the country in a positive way. These business eminences made their money in an honest way in order to donate (like a philanthropist). So, were they robber barons, or were they captains of the industry?