ipl-logo

Andrew Carnegie's Laissez-Faire: Robber Barons

744 Words3 Pages

Laissez-faire was a policy followed by the U.S. government that entailed the government could not take part in the affairs of businesses. Many entrepreneurs and businessmen, during the 19th century, took advantage of this, to its fullest extent. One of these men was Andrew Carnegie; an influential, wealthy businessman who became a prominent monopolist of the steel industry. However, contrary to popular belief, he was a robber baron, in that he became rich through unscrupulous acts. Carnegie exercised immoral business practices that included giving low wages to employees, lack of empathy towards his employees , and his deceitful nature. Every business depends on its employees and workers, without them there would be no mass quantities of the product, or …show more content…

One example of this unethical way of business, was his way of acquiring “Allegheny Steel Company.” The company was beginning to become quite the competitor, using a new method that allowed the efficient, and effective production of steel. The company’s new method was so successful, they were able to undercut Carnegie’s own prices. However, Carnegie began spreading false rumors of the steel being manufactured by Allegheny Steel Company, implying it was ineffective, spreading alarm to their buyers. He was able to hurt their company and take the the reins. Once Carnegie had acquired the company, he declared that the process that was being used was efficient, and would save the company both time and money without compromising the quality of the steel, contrary to his prior rumors. Carnegie spread lies about a company that was prospering, and earning more profits than him, for the reason of hurting their business and acquiring their methods. This completely loathsome, deceitful business practices is nothing short of immoral, and depicts Carnegie as a robber

Show More
Related
549 Words | 3 Pages

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the captains of industry, more popularly known as robber barons, controlled big businesses, but through unethical, cut-throat ways. Robber barons were the wealthy citizens who owned successful businesses which used tactics that kept them on top, and there competitors below them. These tactics included, trusts, pools, and holding companies, which were all forms of monopolies. There were many individuals who qualified as a robber baron, but three of the most well known are Andrew Carnegie, John Davidson Rockefeller, and John Pierpont Morgan.

Read More
557 Words | 3 Pages

A “robber baron” is defined as one who uses immoral methods to get rich. John D. Rockefeller, king of oil and the owner of the Standard Oil Company, was known for these unscrupulous tactics. Rockefeller’s peculiar ideas of the “law of nature” in accordance with his “primitive savagery” allowed this stealthy businessman to manipulate his way to the top. Although Rockefeller’s oil monopoly attributed to the wealth of the American economy, he destroyed the morality of modest men to accomplish ultimate power and prestige making him one of the wealthiest industrialists during his time.

Read More
812 Words | 4 Pages

When it comes to the terms “Robber Barons” or “Captains of Industry” an automatic focus brings and individual to three key historical figures including Cornelius Vanderbilt, John D. Rockefeller, and Andrew Carnegie. Whether or not an individual agrees with the given terms jointly or feels stronger about one way or the other, there is plenty of information to support either side or both sides simultaneously. I feel that as time has gone on from the 19th century to present day the roles have changed from “Robber Barons” to “Captains of Industry” with the continued progression of everyday living. The “Robber Barons” began with Vanderbilt, an aggressive, rude, competitive steamboat owner/operator turned railroad owner. He was known in the steamboat

Read More
354 Words | 2 Pages

When Cornelius Vanderbilt died he left his $100 million fortune to his son William Vanderbilt and they both had the same attitude. During the Gilded Age these big business and their owners were thought of as being Robber Barons or Captains of Industry. The poor working conditions that were provided, the corruption they led in government, and their use of child labor shows that they were Robber Barons. Children were used in labor to work a lot and most days of the week. Kids as young as 5 often worked as much as 12 to 14 hours a day for barely any pay.

Read More
606 Words | 3 Pages

According to document 3, He told Frank Doubleday to quit his business instead of encourage him. From the Production Costs and Selling Prices for One Ton of Steel Rails(document 4), showed that Carnegie’s Edgar Thomson Steel Works always get a profit because of location. According to Map of Selected Carnegie Properties(document 5), showed about his industries location that make him got a lot of profit. According to document 6, he got a lot of profit, have many industries but his workers were unhappy. Because, the workers were overwork and got a very low wages.

Read More
465 Words | 2 Pages

Over a century after his death, Stanford’s name lives vividly in international consciousness as one of the most prestigious universities in the United States. However, before he and his wife, Jane, created Leland Stanford Jr. University, his origins begin quite differently: as an adventurous capitalist and politician who made California his stomping grounds over the course of several decades. Stanford experimented with various industries and enjoyed great wealth as one of the major robber barons of the late 19th century. Although Leland Stanford may have achieved his wealth through morally questionable ways, his legacy lives on through what is now called Stanford University, erected in memory of his deceased son.

Read More
218 Words | 1 Pages

Robber barons, specifically Andrew Carnegie, an industrialist and John D. Rockefeller, a philanthropist, were the chosen, elite members of society according to the doctrine of Social Darwinism. Darwinism is when evolution occurs and the strongest organisms of an ecosystem survive and reproduce to outnumber the weaker, less fit organisms of an ecosystem. Similarly Social Darwinism follows the same concept, but in a capitalist sense of thought. Those who were able to exploit the Gilded Age’s laissez faire economy to their own benefit, like the robber barons Andrew Carnegie of Carnegie Steel and J. D. Rockefeller of Standard Oil, were the fittest members of society because they were able to survive in the grueling and ruthless free economy. By usurping all of the fresh yet unfit immigrants that were flowing into the States due to the rise of urbanization, these two men integrated these easily-manipulated people into their factories to augment their profits.

Read More
1093 Words | 5 Pages

After the Civil War, the Second Industrial Revolution was established due to America’s rapid growth for industry and economics. Capitalists during the industrial period of 1875-1900’s were either accused of being a robber baron or a captain of industry. Some capitalists leaders who were accused of being a robber baron or captain of industry included J.P. Morgan, Andrew Carnegie, Andrew W. Mellon, and John D. Rockefeller. A robber baron is a business leader who gets rich through cruel and scandalous business practices. The captains of industry is a business leader who wants to better the companies in a way that it would be positively contributing to the country.

Read More
306 Words | 2 Pages

The actions of these four businessmen in the late 1800s had overall a negative effect on society. These men were known as Robber Barons. A Robber Baron is someone who acquired a fortune in the 19th century by ruthless means. Examples of Robber Barons include JP Morgan, John Rockefeller, and Andrew Carnegie. These men gave horrible working conditions to their employees.

Read More
666 Words | 3 Pages

The United States began to enter a prosperous and increasing period after the civil war known as industrialization. Despite the fact that industrialization led the United States to wealth, it also led it to many social and economic problems during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. During this time, Upton Sinclair and Andrew Carnegie were the people who responded to the economic and social problems generated by industrialization. Andrew Carnegie was one of the wealthy men in America and was very charitable, he impacted the United States with his steel to transform cities. During these economic and social problems generated by industrialization, he responded by providing money to fund charities.

Read More
610 Words | 3 Pages

That made Carnegie feel intimidated so Carnegie basically sabotaged his company by sending out notices to railroads telling them that Allegheny’s business would lead to defective rails which would in the end cause fatal acciendents. In the end Csrnegie was sucessful with this because Allegheny’s business sufferend and Carnegie took control of the works. This shows that Carnegie didn’t like competition because it made him lose money and because Carnegie loved his money he would do anything within his power to take down any competetion completely and only gain money for himself. This proves that Carnegie is also not a Hero because he doesn’t play fair instead of Carnegie trying to negotiate a deal with Allegheny he took him out and stole his business

Read More
605 Words | 3 Pages

Underpinnings and Effectiveness of Carnegie’s “Gospel of Wealth” In Andrew Carnegie’s “Gospel of Wealth”, Carnegie proposed a system of which he thought was best to dispose of “surplus wealth” through progress of the nation. Carnegie wanted to create opportunities for people “lift themselves up” rather than directly give money to these people. This was because he considered that giving money to these people would be “improper spending”.

Read More
835 Words | 4 Pages

The late nineteenth century was a pivotal moment in American history. During this time, the Industrial Revolution transformed the nation, railroads had dissipated all throughout the country, and economic classes began to form, separating the wealthy from the poor. One of the wealthiest men of this generation was Andrew Carnegie, a Scottish immigrant who fled to America to make millions off the railroad, oil and even steel businesses. Carnegie is considered one of the richest men in history, and even with all that wealth he decided to give back to the community. As a matter of fact, Carnegie donated most of his funds to charities, universities and libraries in his last few years.

Read More
460 Words | 2 Pages

Carnegie was considered a Robber Baron for many reasons. For example, he gained huge profits because of his workers low wages. In the excerpt, “Who was Andrew Carnegie,” the author said, “his steel workers were often pushed to long hours and low wages.” Workers worked in harsh conditions and received no benefits causing them to live in poverty with scarce food, clothing, and shelter. Workers were tired of the low wages and decided to go on strike.

Read More
235 Words | 1 Pages

Robber Barons and Captains of Industry Some might believe that the businessmen of the Gilded age are robber barons because of how some of them treated their workers and spent their money. The businessmen of the Gilded Age were captains of industry because of the impact that they made on the country. Carnegie, Rockefeller, Morgan, and Vanderbilt all have done things that can identify them as captains of industry. These businessmen gave their time and effort to help the economy grow.

Read More

More about Andrew Carnegie's Laissez-Faire: Robber Barons

Related Topics

Open Document