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Characteristics of robber barons and captains of industries
Characteristics of robber barons and captains of industries
Characteristics of a robber baron
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After the civil war the number of factories increased, and so did the competition between businessmen. During the year 1879 trusts were developed and trusts operated all the companies and just paid profits to the stockholders. John D. Rockefeller was one of the first to form a trust in the oil industry. The creation of the sugar, steel, and the whisky trust were established because of the successfulness of the standard oil company.
Name of Industrialist: Henry Ford How did he acquire his wealth? He acquire his wealth by being a self-made man, that revolutionize the car industry in the 90’s. How he (or his related industries) treated workers? Ford manage to lowered the cost of manufacturing, while providing a wage correspondent to more than double of the previous average.
John Hancock was president of the Second Continental Congress and first Governor of the commonwealth of Massachusetts born on January 12, 1737 in Braintree Massachusetts most commonly know for his large signature on the Declaration of Independence. He was an important figure during the American Revolution and was one of the richest men in the colonies. Hancock lived an interesting life and provided a significant impact to American history. He was the son of John Hancock and Mary Hawke.
Captains of Industry or Robber Barons? “What do I care about the law? Ain’t I got the power?” This is a quote from the business magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, who was the leader of the railroad industry during the Gilded Age. The Gilded Age was a superficial period in the US History, in which the economy grew at a suprising rate.
Robber Barons vs Captains of Industries The Industrial age was a period of economic and manufacturing growth full of mass production and expansion of large industries. During this time there were people who were called Captains of Industry who were leaders and innovators of business who employ thousands of workers and establish philanthropic foundations (charities). For example, John D. Rockefeller donated to many different charities to help other people. Also people called Robber Barons which were people who amassed great wealth through unfair and questionable business practices who used their money to gain power. For example, Cornelius Vanderbilt never spent his money on anything besides donating one million dollars to the construction
The Gilded Age was an era of rapid growth in the Americas, between 1870 and 1900. Early industrialists, like John D. Rockefeller, set out to create monopolies. In 1859, hundreds of people rushed to Pennsylvania to industrialize oil. Although they were ruthless competitors and hard-nosed employers, early industrialists like John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie should be remembered most as "captains of industry" because their grit and resourcefulness left an invaluable positive impact on American society. It is true that some industrialists exhibit a few qualities of a robber baron.
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.
Did you know Andrew Carnegie earned $92,000 everyday while his workers earned a measly $1.50? Andrew Carnegie grew up poor. At twelve he left school and began working to help support his family. He worked 12 hour days for $1.20 a week at a textile mill. He then began delivering telegrams for $4 a week.
His life growing up, gave him the experience of what the lower class people had to endure, he started out with nothing, but he took advantage of the opportunities he was presented with. Rockefeller, although he is portrayed as a robber baron, gave away more than half of his profit from the oil company, as well as donated one tenth of his income to charity. (The Trust and Monopoly) Despite being labeled falsely as a robber baron, he proved that he was a resourceful businessman that saw an opportunity and went for it, he used his resources and connections in the railroad company to earn him the millionaire status. With great power comes great responsibility, and these captains took it upon themselves, and realized that their responsibility, and duty to the nation, was to inform and educate the people on how to be successful as well.
Sadly, the business soon failed, puting the Carnegies in need of money once again(“Andrew Carnegie: Pioneer.”). Andrew soon joined
The life of a coal miner is not so different from the views of Andrew Carnegie. In the Gilded Age, a lot of youthful boys and men would work endless hours to only get from sixty cents to a dollar every day. Carnegie would focus on how the upper class would misuse their money for selfish needs. These young coal miners would work more than these rich “snobs” and still get a salary of less that 200 dollars a year. That is what Carnegie was stressing in his Gospel of Wealth.
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.
Was Cornelius Vanderbilt a Robber Baron or Captain of Industry? A cruel businessman or an industrious leader? Henry J. Raymond believed that Vanderbilt was “a monopolist that crushed other competitors”(T.J Stiles). While he is also deemed one of America’s leading businessmen, and is also credited for helping shape the United States. His fortunes were made unfairly in some cases but his million dollar contribution to the Navy was very generous.
Andrew Carnegie was a “robber baron” as shown in the way he acted towards the people who helped him reach the top and the terrible working environment that he subjected his workers to. He did various things in an attempt at overshadowing the awful things he did and positively alter his public image. His mentor, Thomas Scott, taught him the skills he would use to become the undisputed king of steel. Costs were the most important aspect of any business and reducing those required cutting wages, demanding 13 hour days and utilizing spies as a way to thwart possible strikes. Many years after Carnegie had gone out on his own, Scott met with him thinking that the years they spent together and all he had taught him would unquestionably result in help in his time of trouble.
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.
