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John D. Rockefeller's 'Richest Man In America'

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If the founders of American industry never believed bigger risks always lead to bigger rewards, they may have never taken the risks they did. Without these risks taken by three determined men, along with other founders of American industry, America would be different than it is today. John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, and Henry Ford were three men who believed that the bigger the risk, the bigger the reward.
John D. Rockefeller believed bigger risks lead to bigger rewards. The title of the “Richest Man in America” was very important to Rockefeller, but he knew that there was no way to receive this title with the competitiveness of the oil industry. To receive this title, Rockefeller took a big risk hopping the big risk would lead to a …show more content…

In the 1860s, Carnegie left the railroad and became a KeyStone Bridge Company partner. After a little while, Carnegie realized that bridges made of iron were much stronger than what the bridges were made of at the time: wood. Once identifying this, Carnegie began to invest in iron production. Eventually, the Eads Bridge was built, receiving the title of the world’s first bridge made of steel. At first, people were doubtful about the bridge and would not walk across it. To prove that it was safe, Carnegie walked across the bridge with an elephant. Because of this, the people’s doubts about the bridge went away, and they began to use …show more content…

If John D. Rockefeller never took the big risk of creating a monopoly, he may have been pasted by competitors not only in the oil industry, but also other industries, and perhaps never have had the title as the richest man in America. Similarly, if Andrew Carnegie, never took the risk of investing in iron, he may have never been involved in the building of the world’s first steel bridge. In addition, if he didn't prove to the people that the bridge was safe by being the first to walk across it (along with the elephant), people may have had always doubted the safety of the bridge. Lastly, without Henry Ford’s risk to race the fasted driver in America, Ford may have never made a name for himself allowing him to start his own company, and cars may have not evolved into what they are today. Thankfully these three founders of American industry all took these risks, because if they hadn’t, America may have never developed in the same way it

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The question of whether John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie were "captains of industry" or "robber barons" is a complex one. Both John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie played significant roles in the growth and development of American industry during the late 19th and early 26th centuries. On one hand, they are often referred to as "captains of industry" because of their entrepreneurial spirit and their ability to innovate and transform entire industries.

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Arguably one of the most pivotal points in American history, the industrialization of the 19th century brought about a new way of life, and with that came intense competition and crucial outcomes. Cornelius Vanderbilt, Andrew Carnegie and John D Rockefeller are just a few examples of industrialists that made lasting impacts on society. I believe that these 19th century industrialists did not always play fair, but it was their motivation and intuition behind their choices that credit them as the “Captains of Industry” and helped shape American business. To earn this title, these men had to do whatever it took to stay on top. Being the front runners, they were constantly being targeted and had to fight back to ensure the prosper of their own

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(Source 1 “The New Tycoons- John D. Rockefeller) The want for Rockefeller’s products was only increased by the growth of the good’s shipping rates. Of course, Rockefeller was conscious of this and found a way to use this edge to its full potential. Only an intellectual being would be able to have as large of a command for their products as Rockefeller. Entrepreneurs would be capable of high demand for their goods if Rockefeller was their

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Entrepreneurs controlled the Gilded Age creating a growing economy with booming businesses and yet this has not changed over the years. John Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie can be compared to those with the names Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. Multibillionaires, who know what the consumers desire, is what these men are best at. They knew and now know business well enough to be able to control our country’s’ economy. However, these successful business men do not do it together.

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For example, when Carnegie was first assigned to build a mile-long bridge across the Mississippi River from East to West he faced the decision of finding a material that would be strong enough and could support the long distance. He came up with the decision to use steel but the metal was very expensive and he soon fell behind two years of construction. In the end, after four years, at the age of 33, Carnegie was able to build the first major bridge, uniting America across the wide river. (Magan, Ruan and Patrick Reams). The belief Carnegie had, of steel building America, became a reality when he used the relationship of steel with railroads.

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At the time one in four bridges built would fail and no one had ever attempted to build a bridge this large before, but Carnegie took on the challenge. Carnegie knew that there could be no rewards without risks and he put together a team of men to design the bridge. It would be called the Eads Bridge. (Source 8) Many concepts were scrapped and the design team soon realised that Iron was not strong enough to withstand the currents of the river. (Source 3) Carnegie knew that he would have to find something stronger than iron.

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Carnegie invested everything he had into the bridge which nobody had built a rail bridge this big. He encountered many

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Coming with a successful business is people trying to find faults in your greatness. Rockefeller was a Captain of Industry, he helped improve the inventions we already had by making oil more readily available. By doing this he made a fortune which made people believe that he was unable to be trusted, but all of these suspicions were incorrect, Rockefeller made his money honestly and helped our country thrive and become who we are today. Rockefeller had competition in the oil industry but,

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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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The men who built America also know the innovator is a docudrama and directed by Patrick Reams and Ruan Magan. This movie focuses on the life of Cornelius Vanderbilt, John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, J.P. Morgan and Henry Ford, and how their innovation and leadership skills renovated the modern society. But for the purpose of this assessment my research is based on John D Rockefeller and his leadership skills. Short History of John D. Rockefeller John D Rockefeller was born in 1839 in New York to Bill and Eliza Rockefeller. From a very young age his father taught him to be smart and cunning in every deal, and also not to trust anyone in his life including his father and His mother was a fervent Baptist and tried to instill in him the importance of being a good Christian.

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