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The Reconstruction Er Robber Barons

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After the time period between 1865-1900 which was also known as the Reconstruction Era, advancements in the industry began to become more efficient. There were many social and political reforms that occurred that applied to this evolution. During the 19th century there were many advancements that changed society like oil, steel, and electricity. Then, creating concepts of big business helps the foundation of the economy. However, the idea of Robber Barons became known as people who used extreme methods to gain wealth through their actions to become the best in the industry, impacting them to become greedy. The effect that these corporate workers had created an angry working class which then created more racism and xenophobia.The working class' …show more content…

Some historians have characterized the industrial and business leaders of the 1865—1900 period as "robber barons," who used extreme methods to control and concentrate wealth and power. This is shown very prevalent in this historical information through economic relations with power as well as striving for both political and social control. Robber Barons were extremists who used tactics to become the apex of the wealth pyramid. For example, William Vanderbilt, father of Cornelius Vanderbilt, used strategies to become the number 1. Monopolizing huge industries through the formation of trusts, running competitors out of business, paying low wages, these were just some methods that Robber Barons would use. In the Interview with William Vanderbilt, Chicago Daily News, 1882 as well as Thomas Alva Edison, Letter written November 14, 1887 and James B. Weaver, “A Call to Action,” 1892 demonstrated that Robber Barons were ruthless and began to grow greedy with their growing industries. During the interview with William Vanderbilt, Chicago Daily News Vanderbilt says, “The public be damned. What does the public care about the railroads except to get as much out of them for as little consideration as

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Cornelius Vanderbilt: Captain of Industry When America began its journey into industry, the country immediately flourished. Inundated with immigrants, factories were easily staffed; jobs were given out to any individual who wanted one. However, some of these large industrial companies flourished more than others. Cornelius Vanderbilt, for example, became one of the richest men in the country. Many Americans believe that business owners like Vanderbilt should be given the name “Robber Barons” because of their great accomplishments; however, in contrast, others like to deem them as America’s “Captains of Industry”.

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In the 1800’s an almost pure capitalist country was being controlled, bribed, and powered by Robber Barons which employed most of their population in an unmonitored economy. During the late 19th century these Robber Barons were in control of most citizen’s salary. In order to increase profits many factories paid their workers a decent wage so their employees could afford their products. That was the United States. Again a similar problem is arising.

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Nevertheless, many businessmen also saw Vanderbilt as a Robber Baron due to the hostile things he would do like running small railroad companies out of business and wanting to take control of them all for himself. In my opinion, I feel that Cornelius Vanderbilt was a Captain of Industry for the reason that he did a lot of good in this world by paving the way for future generations of

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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.

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For the first time in the country’s short existence, the man who was most capable of leading America was not a politician. He was a self-made person who, through sheer force of will, was able to turn a poor upbringing on the docks of New Harbor into an empire. Vanderbilt grew up poor, but at age 16, he bought a small ferry boat with a loan of $100 and quickly developed a reputation as a “cutthroat” businessman. He was a tough guy and did whatever it took to get ahead of the game, and once he created the railroad empire, he became the richest man in the country. He even became so synonymous with shipping that his nickname became “the Commodore.”

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The late 19th century was full of growth, production, and business. People were craving power and seemed to achieve this through any means necessary. Consequently, a new business elite formed consisting of the richest men alive. The way in which these individuals acquired all their profits is something very contradictory even over one-hundred years later. Some historians characterize these businessmen as “robber barons” who used extreme methods to control and concentrate wealth and power, and being supported by multiple sources, this statement is justified but only to some extent.

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After the Civil War America entered an era known as the Gilded Age where the economy began to grow in production of raw materials and railroads plus population increased tremendously. The industry of America grew large and big businessmen like Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller became very wealthy and rich. Soon after the rise in popularity of the businessmen in Industry people began labeling the businessmen as either “ Robber Barons “ or “ Captains of Industry “. Robber Barons were considered entrepreneurs who would stop at little expense to achieve a lot of wealth. They would be cruel to their workers and force horrible working conditions while paying little to the workers.

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I believe that cornelius vanderbilt was a robber baron because he was very demanding and often used ruthless ways to get money, fortune ,and fame. For example employees were underpaid

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His work, The Tycoons: How Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Jay Gould, and J. P. Morgan Invented the American Supereconomy, allows readers to see a more picture perfect outlook on what the lives of these men entitled. Morris’s book was published in 2005, which allows readers to get a perspective from a long period of time and closer to reality rather than other historians writing on this era. The last author that allows readers to view the Robber Barons in a different manor is James Nuechterlein in his journal article Gifts of the “Robber Barons.” Nuechterlein wrote this article in 2007 allowing readers to view the men through historical resources that he uncovered. His stance shows a more balanced approach to the Robber Barons rather than saying one or the other was a better man than the other.

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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.

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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.

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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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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.

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