The Reconstruction Er Robber Barons

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'

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