2. Compared to the Collins line, the Vanderbilt line was much more successful and benefited a much larger portion of the market. Collins operated a firm that was very inefficient and required government funds to remain alive. Without the continuous subsidies, Collins would not be able to compete with competition. In order for a free market to operate effectively, the federal government must not heavily interfere with subsidies. This happened to countless firms throughout history, from Collins's line to Amtrak and Comcast. These companies have no incentive to conduct good business practices because the government will cover their losses. Thus, Collins was able to charge what he wanted and provide what services deemed appropriate, all at the …show more content…
With the dramatically lower costs for traveling across the Atlantic, Vanderbilt changed the lives of thousands of poor and working class Americans and Europeans alike. It was now economical for thousands of families to immigrate to the new world, providing great new opportunities for the countries they immigrate to. Sea travel stopped being a luxury for the rich and became something available for everyone. The quality of life for thousands of Vanderbilt's customers were drastically increased because of his entry and genius in the marketplace. He would bring this talent into the railroad industry as well, revolutionizing the industry. While he became one of the richest Americans of all time, he most certainly didn't corrupt society in doing so. It's rather the …show more content…
Vanderbilt, and Rockefeller for that matter, are often treated poorly by many people or uneducated historians. As they are affectionately called "robber barons" (a term given to them by their competition), these entrepreneurs are often viewed as the greatest thieves of society, despite the fact that there was no consensual taking involved in their success. These "monopolists" of the 19th century oversaw the creation of the platform which lead to the rise of America as an economic superpower in World War I and World War II. The American industrial revolution, and these monopolists involvement are essential to America's success. America, like some Western European nations like Great Britain, Prussia and France, oversaw the expansion of efficient travel, manufacturing, and the increased quality of life for many of the working poor. Mass production and competitive price setting by these major corporations created drastically low prices, that even the poorest of America could afford. Train and trans-Atlantic travel became very cheap, and oil products were a household item because of the competitive nature of these companies. A lot of historians praise President Theodore Roosevelt for passing the anti-trust laws to burst efficient monopolies, which was counterproductive. Standard Oil became very influenced by the government, and by the mid-twentieth century, Standard Oil had the CIA and Federal Government doing jobs for it, such as toppling foreign governments threatening