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The Titanic And The Titanic

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The Titanic was one of a trio. “Her” sisters were the Olympic and the Gigantic. These ships were made by the White Star Lines, all of their names ending with “ic”. The White Star Lines were known for making the top of the line, most luxurious ship liners of their time. The point in making luxurious and fast ship liners were to compete and beat the German ship liners. This ship race between Germany and Britain went clear back to the 1860’s. As Britain kept getting out bested by Germany an American trust builder named Junius Pierpont Morgan saw a chance to make money or a monopoly. Morgan realized the rivalry and had already monopolized U.S railroads, and wanted to to take control over the North Atlantic Shipping Lines. Morgan’s first move in 1898 was when he bought the more ran down Inman Line. The owner of the White Star Line, Thomas Ismay, foresaw a big rate war on the North Atlantic and resisted Morgan until his death in 1899. After Ismay’s death Morgan jumped at the opportunity to get more control by purchasing a controlling interest from the German lines, Hamburg-Amerika and Norddeutscher-Lloyd. Just a year later Morgan gained control of the Leyland Line, the Dominion Line, and the Red Star Line. His next targets were the White Star Line, and the Cunard. For competition Morgan cut fares until his lines were a third class passage to America for as little as two euros, ($2.38). J. Bruce Ismay, the son of Thomas Ismay, resisted Morgan like his father.

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