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Oil Industry Dbq Analysis

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During the period of the Gilded Age, the United States was controlled by the corporations owned by robber barons. Men such as Carnegie, Rockefeller, and Morgan used money to place their own foothold in the entire economic and political system of the united states. They were able to control wages, adjust prices, buy out all competition, and avoid nearly all punishment. They held their workers under them to build their business. These business’ products were such a necessity they were able to control the entire nation. Their control resulted in a sharp economic and social class divisions, bringing about corruption and a fight between the average man and the prosperous businessman. Unions formed to fight against these big businesses and bring …show more content…

Skilled and unskilled workers, farmers and reformers banded together to fight big businesses for rights, fair wages, and eight hour work days. One of these includes the National Labor Union, the first national labor union in the United States. Another example of big business’ impact on economy is Standard Oil. John D. Rockefeller controlled nearly all of the oil industry in the United States due to his use of the horizontal integration. The Standard Oil monopoly, much like other big businesses, used ruthless tactics to put their competitors out of business. Document 7 describes this tactic in the words of George Rice, “Standard Oil Company was offering the same quality of oil at much lower prices than I could do – from one to three cents a gallon less than I could possibly sell it for.” By selling oil for cheaper, Rockefeller secured himself as the leader in the oil business; he used this to then buy out other businesses to gain total control. This resulted in the destruction of nearly all other oil companies, therefore leaving the country reliant on Standard Oil. According to this document, the railroad …show more content…

These corporations were able to control politicians, creating a government full of corruption. These businesses investested into politicians, in which they eventually became immune to nearly all legal issues. An example of government corruption caused by large corporations is the credit mobilier scandal of 1867, which damaged the careers of multiple gilded age politicians. This scandal was between the railroad and the Credit Mobilier of America Construction Company, the two businesses sold or gave shares to congressmen. This resulted in congressmen approving for federal subsidies for the cost of railroad construction, while simultaneously filling their pockets as well. Document 1 discusses this issue between the railroad and politics by describing the president of the railroad as a king.“He can control legislative bodies, dictate legislation, subsidize the press, and corrupt the moral sense of the community.” Based on this document, we can infer that the railroad company controlled both the government and the people to a point in which they could avoid punishment for nearly everything. Many other businesses also contributed in government corruption. Monopolies on oil, sugar, iron, paper, and other necessities were able to use politicians as pawns in order to do whatever they wanted. Document 3, shows an image of the senate in which the monopolies have complete control, and the people are neglected. This is due to

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559 Words | 3 Pages

Ida did not hesitate to criticize Rockefeller for stooping to unethical business practices in quest for his numerous successes. Her writings were credited with the eventual breakup of Standard Oil, which came after the U.S Supreme Court rule in 1911, that the company was violating the Sherman Antitrust act. The Sherman Antitrust act allowed only Congress to regulate interstate commerce. Ida Tarbell and Ida B. Wells have much more in common than just their names. Both have exposed underlying issues in American society through pieces of writings, persistence, and course of actions they took.

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794 Words | 4 Pages

One person who continuously used bribery was industrialist James Fisk. Fisk was heavily involved in the railroad industry as he used illegal methods to stake his claims in the companies. To win the cases of ownership, he would constantly bribe government officials, the most famous being George C. Barnard, to help sway the decision to Fisk's side. In the case of the Susquehanna Railroad, the court had decided that Robert H. Pruyn, the former owner, would remain the company owner. However, Fisk showed up at the railroad with papers signed by Barnard that claimed that Fisk was the rightful owner.

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1052 Words | 5 Pages

To further the control of information within the United States railroad companies hired lobbyists and journalists to paint a specific picture of the transcontinental advancements to the American

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939 Words | 4 Pages

Thesis : After the Civil War, America was in a post-war boom. During the 1870-1890, big business moguls, such as Rockefeller and Carnegie, create huge corporations which not only affected the economy, but also affected the political realm of America. While many may assume that during the rise of these big business helped to change the economy and politics,  the real focus was on the responses formed by society, such as labor unions, increase public outcry, and political opposition groups that helped to change society. A: Economically, big business flourished during the late 1800s.

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350 Words | 2 Pages

Corporate greedy and corrupt politicians were specific problems and injustices that were present in American life during the late 1800s and early 1900s however these were addressed during the progressive era with laws and regulations. Throughout the gilded era corrupt politicians and corporate greedy allowed the upper class and businessmen to take advantage of the working class. This means that a majority of the population were hurt during the gilded age whereas a small percentage benefitted. As seen in document 1, living conditions were crowded, dirty, and unsafe.

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1017 Words | 5 Pages

In the post-Civil War United States corporations grew significantly in number, size and influence. Big business had a major impact on the economy and politics in America resulting in changes for many American citizens. As been noted, one way in

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1371 Words | 6 Pages

John D. Rockefeller Sr: How did John D. Rockefeller impact the Industrial Revolution John Davison Rockefeller Sr. once stated “If you want to succeed you should strike out on new paths, rather than travel the worn paths of accepted success” (John D. Rockefeller Quotes). John D. Rockefeller was the founder of Standard Oil in which then became one of the wealthiest men in the world. Rockefellers ongoing funding as a philanthropist and trust in oil is how the man's name still lives on to this day (The Rockefeller Archive Center). For thousands of years oil has been a main resource for human consumption, and remains the same.

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303 Words | 2 Pages

19th century capitalists such as John Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie developed larger forms of economic concentration through business tactics such as predatory pricing/collusion, rebate pricing and monopolies. Rockefeller began in the kerosene industry just after the end of the Civil War and his business quickly became the largest oil refinery in the United States. Rockefeller was a tireless penny pincher who was often hyper focused on technology, waste reduction and increasing the bottom line. Rockefeller would negotiate deals that would offer fuel contracts at prices that were predatory, below market price. Local competitors were unable to match the offered price and would lose their customers.

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479 Words | 2 Pages

Indeed, corruption is a phenomenon, which manipulates the root of a nation’s economic system. In fact, countries that fall under the economic crisis are the result of corruption. From the era of President Grant to President Hayes and to Grover Cleveland, politics and congress members were involve in corruption. Moreover, as the industrial revolution emerged in the south and the west of the United States, big business such as railroads, oil companies, steal companies started negotiation with politics on laissez-faire. In fact, monopoly and holding company were the ways that corporate companies used to occupy the market.

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489 Words | 2 Pages

Imagine working sixteen hours a day in an unsanitary, dangerous, place for a big business gaining two dollars. This is what laboring-class Americans had to go through during the Gilded age. Politically, the first largest American labor union was formed during the Gilded age and many other organizations formed as well as violent strikes. Socially, different ethnics joined together to share their thoughts and realize the evils of big business and of the federal government. Mentally, most we 're losing their personal life while some were financially stable and glad.

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535 Words | 3 Pages

During the period of 1870 to 1900 large corporations, such as the railway company, grew significantly in size, number, and influence. The cause of this was the need for a new way of transportation, the demand was great so the railways expanded all over the United States so that they could meet these demands. These large corporations affected the economy by making it easier to pay for everyday chores, politics in the way that it gave politicians too much power but in doing so gave normal limited power. The corporations had great power and influence which made them a huge impact to society.

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297 Words | 2 Pages

John Rockefeller may be known as the most hated businessmen of all time, however, his success was well known due to his skills as a business administrator helped him eliminate inefficiencies within the industry. He thought that the key to beat competition was through efficiency and attention to detail. His tactics were to secure the lowest shipping rates from railroads, lowered prices to cut out competitors which then he bought them out, increase efficiency, and utilized all waste. The goal with standard oil was to control and calm a very chaotic oil business. He then ended up buying the majority of the refineries around Cleveland and then take apart the bad ones and upgrades the better ones to his standards.

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1093 Words | 5 Pages

Rockefeller most often just bought his competition out. Since he was so rich and powerful, he had the ability to lower his prices so low, that his competitors could no longer sell their goods, and were forced to sell their business to Standard Oil. Another tactic he used was purposely driving his competitors to bankruptcy. This was the most brutal. There was a case in the earlier years of Standard Oil, where he drove Cornelius Vanderbilt, the second most powerful businessman in the U.S. into the dirt.

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459 Words | 2 Pages

Rockefeller: The Captain of Industry that has helped our country thrive “The best philanthropy” he wrote, is constantly in search of finalities- a search for a cause an attempt to cure evils at their source” - John D. Rockefeller John D. Rockefeller was the richest man of his time but, used his wealth to improve our country. Rockefeller entered the fledgling Oil industry in 1863, by investing in a factory in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1870 Rockefeller established the Standard Oil Company. With the establishment of the oil company Rockefeller controlled 90% of the oil business in America by 1880.

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1179 Words | 5 Pages

Rockefeller’s impact on the United States cause the U.S. government to create new laws and acts to prevent unfair business tactics and promote the idea of capitalism. During Rockefeller’s time in the oil industry he at one point controlled about 90% of U.S. pipelines and refineries. Statistics show that Rockefeller was very successful, however, he was not the most ethical businessman. He created the first monopoly by unethical practices such as colluding with railroads and using predatory pricing to rid himself of competition and take the idea of capitalism away from other aspiring oil businessmen. In Rockefeller’s mind, however, he was not being unfair he; was rather just using effective business techniques.

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