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Robber barons & rebels
Vanderbilt carnegie rockefeller morgan research paper on robber barons
Thesis of robber barons
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The United States experienced unparalleled growth during the period of time following the Civil War, known as the Gilded Age, with city expansion supported by new and growing industries, railroad expansion, technological inventions, GNP increases, skyscrapers being built, and more. While many view the industrialists of the Gilded Age as Captains of Industry for the way they grew America economically and lifestyles-wise, they were really Robber Barons because of the fraudulent, corrupt actions they took to hurt both their consumers and their laborers. While the Gilded Age industrialists were truly Robber Barons, the way in which they contributed to and improved America's overall lifestyle exhibited that they were also characteristic of Captains
When it comes to the terms “Robber Barons” or “Captains of Industry” an automatic focus brings and individual to three key historical figures including Cornelius Vanderbilt, John D. Rockefeller, and Andrew Carnegie. Whether or not an individual agrees with the given terms jointly or feels stronger about one way or the other, there is plenty of information to support either side or both sides simultaneously. I feel that as time has gone on from the 19th century to present day the roles have changed from “Robber Barons” to “Captains of Industry” with the continued progression of everyday living. The “Robber Barons” began with Vanderbilt, an aggressive, rude, competitive steamboat owner/operator turned railroad owner. He was known in the steamboat
Andrew Carnegie: The Ultimate Robber Baron Four hundred and seventy-five million dollars. This is the overwhelmingly large amount of money Andrew Carnegie acquired during his lifetime. Though not privileged as a boy, he worked his way up the ladder, achieving more than anyone could have ever imagined. Unfortunately, many people were exploited on his way to the top.
Greed – the extreme, selfish desire to acquire what is beyond average necessities. Whether greed applies to wealth or power, mankind is prone to exemplify the cupidity. Humans may never become truly content with what they are given, allowing them to desire superfluous objects. The development of greed, as shown in repeated history, eventually leads to the ruination of characters, one particular character being Andrew Carnegie. Andrew Carnegie, the leader of the steel industry in the 19th century, epitomized the concept of greed by yearning for supplementary profits within his company; this greed greatly affected the lives of many, including Carnegie himself.
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.
The Gilded Age is known for the advancements made during the 1870’s through 1900. At the same time it is known for the poverty and filth that struck so many lives in our country. Andrew Carnegie seems to show these advancements for business and technology in his lifetime. He was a man that worked his way to the top, but lost his prospective along the way. Looking through the history of his life you find the information that creates the perfect picture of growth and destruction within the gilded age.
He was already elderly and had a contempt for the law. He was used to getting his way and the addition of more wealth only made his self important attitude worse. He was universally an unemphatic individual placing the acquisition of wealth far above any other individual. Andrew Carnegie, the steel baron, was a Scottish immigrant who worked his way to the top. He was the master of Vertical Integration, owning all aspects of his industry from mining to selling the product.
That made him one of the richest men. But what did he do with all the money he was making? The real question is, was Carnegie a hero? A hero is someone who does outstanding achievements. There were three reasons Andrew Carnegie was a hero he always gave back, he didn't just leave his money with his family, and brought beauty to a castle in Scotland.
This is where his employees the working men did their labour at. The working men did difficult and back breaking work for little pay; they perceived Andrew Carnegie to be an extreme hypocrite. The working men and Andrew constantly had conflicting views. Carnegie strong philanthropist ideals that he confidence in notion that prosperous humans had various duties so that world can be a better place.
He then started his first job, having his career take off he earned more than $100,000 in the middle of his life. Was Carnegie a hero or a villain? Andrew was a hero in business and philanthropy, but not with labor in many eyes. Carnegie was an American hero in the eyes of people who did not face the challenges of his labor. Workers at Andrew’s industry earned no more than $1.90 while he received over one-hundred thousand dollars.(Doc 7)
He would also donate money to companies. He would give things another than money. Andrew Carnegie did repay the people. Andrew Carnegie was a hero because he showed concern for others. In the text “Andrew Carnegie, ‘wealth,’ North American Review, June 1889.”
Andrew Carnegie was a hero in three areas of his life: unselfishness, concern for others, and his grittiness. The first area in which Andrew Carnegie was a hero was his unselfishness in a chart created by Joseph Frazier Wall one can clearly notice how much Carnegie gave out ($350,696,653). Also in Wall’s chart it demonstrates that “The Carnegie Corporation’s net assets in
andrew used his workers well earned money; later Carnegie used the money for charity and himself. Andrew Carnegie was not a hero, he took money from his worker, and later used that money for charity and himself. The steel company was important to America, but what would the steel company be without the workers? ANdrew Carnegie reduced wages of worker
Carnegie was not a hero, because a hero does a deed selflessly, but he thought a lot about himself. 184,400,000 dollars was spent on big-name corporations and associations that would honor him by naming a meaningful belonging after him (Doc C). Carnegie was a man who wanted to feed his ego but should have donated money to help the community, not make himself known. Andrew Carnegie was not a true hero. Many may say, going from rags to riches makes Carnegie a hero.
Robber Barons and Captains of Industry Some might believe that the businessmen of the Gilded age are robber barons because of how some of them treated their workers and spent their money. The businessmen of the Gilded Age were captains of industry because of the impact that they made on the country. Carnegie, Rockefeller, Morgan, and Vanderbilt all have done things that can identify them as captains of industry. These businessmen gave their time and effort to help the economy grow.
