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Cobblestone, By John D. Rockefeller

1151 Words5 Pages

Growing up in the lower class and making it up to the upper class is what John D. Rockefeller did. Growing up with nothing, to having what seems like an endless amount of everything is the definition of rags to riches. At one point, Rockefeller was the richest person in the world, but it was not always that way. Rockefeller's strong ambition and work ethic helped him become one of, if not, the wealthiest Americans in American history. One piece of evidence that showed Rockefeller was an ambitious man is that even though he grew up in a non-wealthy lifestyle, he always tried to earn money. From a young age, he was always looking for a way to become successful. According to Barbara D. Krasner in “Cobblestone,” when Rockefeller and his family …show more content…

Krasner continues to state that Rockefeller did not have a good relationship with the Clark brothers, but Rockefeller was so determined to continue to expand that he bought them out. By buying out his partners, he was ready to take over and dominate the oil industry. Have you ever heard the saying “no one ever becomes successful by being honest”? In Rockefeller’s story, this saying is very true. According to Sara Ann McGill in “John D. Rockefeller” many of his business deals were illegal and immoral. McGill continues by stating that for him to dominate all oil refineries and ensure his success, he allegedly bribed politicians, managed transportation rebate contracts with railroads, and undercut the competition. He also continued to find loopholes in the law so he could continue with his expansion. He bought out most of the oil refineries and dominated the industry, creating a monopoly over the whole oil industry. There is no competition left. He went from being a lower-class man to starting a small company to making it expand …show more content…

Rockefeller: Oil Baron and Philanthropist.” states that Clark and his brothers did not always see eye to eye with Rockefeller and that Clark was nervous because Rockefeller wanted to do all these things on the verge of more competition increasing. Prices per barrel of oil continued to rise. Clark was careful, but Rockefeller had a strong belief in the future of oil. According to Laughlin, Rockefeller and Clark started to get into arguments, and Clark mentioned that maybe they should dissolve the partnership. Rockefeller agreed, suggesting that they should hold an auction so one of them could buy each other out. Clark, not knowing that Rockefeller had been preparing for this to happen, agreed to the auction. Laughlin continues by saying that the auction started at the $500 mark but was increasing rapidly but stopped at $72,500 because Clark did not want to go any higher. At age 25, Rockefeller owned the business, but Andrews was still on his team. Rockefeller had taken the gamble and put his entire future in the oil business. The oil refinery continued to expand rapidly as soon as Rockefeller took over the firm. But to not just rely on the bankers to give them loans, Rockefeller always had sufficient cash in reserve. According to Laughlin, Rockefeller wanted to instill his strong ambition into his

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Your health is more important to us than the business.(John D. Rockefeller and the oil industry) That shows that he cares more about the workers health than his own business. He approached the idea of the standard oil family and he tried to get every person in his family to work.(John D. Rockefeller and the Oil industry) That proves that he believes in working hard. From his actions he is overall not a robber baron because he pays his

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By keeping his prices low, Rockefeller strategically lured in customers. “Rockefeller demanded rebates, or discounted rates, from the railroads. He used all these methods to reduce the price of oil to his consumers.” (Source 1 “the New Tycoons- John D. Rockefeller”) Rockefeller did whatever it took to make

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By the early 20th century, millions of Americans were engaged in oil-related industries; this increased employment. Rockefeller saw the vast potential of the industry, as he described: “We saw the vast possibilities of the oil industry, stood at the center of it, and brought our knowledge and imagination and business experience to bear in a dozen, in twenty, in thirty directions.” Much of Rockefeller’s whole life was characterized by various business-related controversies for his aggressive expanding desire but by the later parts of his life he became to be remembered as a philanthropist for his charitable efforts. The overall image of Rockefeller had varied significantly depending on who he was viewed, for example, his ex-competitors, politicians and critical biographizes.

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Also for the longest time Rockefeller had a monopoly over oil. Rockefeller produced oil, called Standard il. Since nobody else could figure it out they had to only buy from him. So he could make oil as expensive as he wanted. The il he prduced made light everyone needs light, so pf course he got a ton of business.

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Rockefeller was also one of the most successful wealthy Gilded Age entrepreneurs. Although Rockefeller did make a name for himself in the oil industry,supplying the U.S with oil, and creating the Standard Oil Company;his road to power was paved with the pain and suffering of others due to his malicious behavior. He should be remembered as a Robber Baron because of his attempts at monopoly, malicious behavior to those who stood in his way, and especially the treatment of his workers in order to get the wealth he desired. J.D. Rockefeller used tactics such as vertical integration, using rebates to transport his oil for cheaper prices, and using ruthless methods to eliminate the competition. Rockefellers ruthlessness lead him to be very successful up until his fatal encountered with Ida Tarbell.

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