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Industrialization pros and cons
Robber barons and rebels
Robber barons and rebels
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More handpicked essays just for you.
Industrialization pros and cons
Robber barons and rebels
Robber barons and rebels
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Captain of Industry or a Robber Baron? Captain of Industry or a Robber Baron? A Robber barons is typically known for taking advantage of land grant systems, and bribing member of Congress, but it is more then that. It’s more about, it's when someone becomes rich from dirty business, it's you either having or not having a moral opinion. A Captain of Industry is someone who became successful, without having to abuse or take advantage of the system.
According to Andrew Carnegie, men of wealth should have to provide for the less fortunate and should set a good example. The men have to provide all the necessities for his family. Also the men of wealth had to give back to the community.
He donated his money to education, and charities. At his death, His remaining $30 million was granted to some foundations and to prisoners. Do you believe he is a Robber Baron or Captain of Industry? Carnegie made a large sum of money, and he gave his money away in many ways to many organizations such as schools, universities, and many other places. So, I believe he is a Captain of industry.
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.
Justification of this is seen in Document 3, as Andrew Carnegie writes, “The problem of our age is the proper administration of wealth so that the ties of brotherhood may still bind together the rich and poor in harmony.” Surely, a manipulative man would not believe in such fair distribution of wealth. Carnegie is also famous for large charitable donations, meaning his business methods were not enacted solely for his own benefit. This statement highlights Carnegie’s compassionate side and proves that he is not completely a “robber baron.” Similarly to Carnegie, Rockefeller’s compassionate side is also portrayed in Document 7.
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.
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.
Andrew Carnegie: Road to Wealth and Success Seen as a robber baron, Andrew Carnegie may have toll advantage of his loyal employees and his relentless competition, his personal intentions and innovations within the steel industry and his philanthropic distribution undeniably changed America’s society and views of education. In the early nineteenth century, American industrialist were gathering good ideas through Carnegie’s innovations and initiative. When Carnegie started out onto the road to success and wealth, from rags to riches and earned his big reputation that he brought among himself. For the successful people who misused their employees and competition were inevitably labeled as “robber barons,” i.e. John D. Rockefeller.
Robber Barons ' Mock Trial The term robber baron was first created by Matthew Josephson to describe the corrupt, cruel businessmen who made their fortunes off the backs of innocent working-class Americans in the late nineteenth century. While most people can only name a few of the infamous robber barons- like Carnegie, Vanderbilt, and Rockefeller- another, lesser known, thief also falls under that category, more deserving of the name robber baron than even some of the well-known crooks. Leland Stanford was truer to the name robber baron than many others.
Carnegie was without a doubt a beneficent man. Not having any desire to kick the bucket with a crazy measure of cash, Carnegie chose to help general society. He was exceptionally contributing individual from society and gave away as much cash conceivable. " There stays, then, just a single method of utilizing incredible fortunes; … The obligation of the man of riches (is to) set a case of unobtrusive … living … ; and … to consider every surplus income … as trust assets … to create the most useful consequences of the group - the man of riches in this way turning into the … operator for his poorer brethren, conveying to their administration his prevalent astuteness, experience, and capacity to direct; showing improvement over they would or could accomplish for themselves… " (Document 8) says Carnegie.
Andrew Carnegie Once, there was a man to have the largest personal fortune in the world. He helped improve mankind by donating millions of his fortune to charity. This mastermind was named Andrew Carnegie, an industrial monopolizer who used steel to gain his massive fortune. Andrew Carnegie was born November 25, 1835 in Dunfermline, Scotland.
Becoming wealthy comes with a lot of responsibilities, Carnegie said that he lived frugally, so his money started racking up, and then he sold his business which concluded to an extreme amount of money. But many workers of his said that his conditions and wages were not fair for how much he was making. “Carnegie, more than any other businessman of the era, championed the idea that America’s leading tycoons owed a debt to society. He believed that, given the circumstances of their successes, they should serve as benefactors to the less fortunate public” (textbook). Carnegies’ Gospel of Wealth states that he put copious amounts of dedication into his work.
The late nineteenth century was a pivotal moment in American history. During this time, the Industrial Revolution transformed the nation, railroads had dissipated all throughout the country, and economic classes began to form, separating the wealthy from the poor. One of the wealthiest men of this generation was Andrew Carnegie, a Scottish immigrant who fled to America to make millions off the railroad, oil and even steel businesses. Carnegie is considered one of the richest men in history, and even with all that wealth he decided to give back to the community. As a matter of fact, Carnegie donated most of his funds to charities, universities and libraries in his last few years.
Carnegie was considered a Robber Baron for many reasons. For example, he gained huge profits because of his workers low wages. In the excerpt, “Who was Andrew Carnegie,” the author said, “his steel workers were often pushed to long hours and low wages.” Workers worked in harsh conditions and received no benefits causing them to live in poverty with scarce food, clothing, and shelter. Workers were tired of the low wages and decided to go on strike.
Andrew Carnegie was a “robber baron” as shown in the way he acted towards the people who helped him reach the top and the terrible working environment that he subjected his workers to. He did various things in an attempt at overshadowing the awful things he did and positively alter his public image. His mentor, Thomas Scott, taught him the skills he would use to become the undisputed king of steel. Costs were the most important aspect of any business and reducing those required cutting wages, demanding 13 hour days and utilizing spies as a way to thwart possible strikes. Many years after Carnegie had gone out on his own, Scott met with him thinking that the years they spent together and all he had taught him would unquestionably result in help in his time of trouble.