Robber Baron Research Paper

After the Civil War, America gave rise to a new era of industrialism, the Gilded Age. An era dominated by powerful figureheads of industry, otherwise known as robber barons, America soon became an international economic power. Many believe that America’s international economic power is due to the doctrine of laissez-faire capitalism, where businesses operated without any interference from the government. However, there are multiple instances where the American government had directly supported the rise of industrialism. Thus, the Gilded Age’s success cannot only be attributed to laissez-faire because of the government intervention through the use of corruption practices, foreign policy, rail roads and the government’s response, government

Entrepreneurs controlled the Gilded Age creating a growing economy with booming businesses and yet this has not changed over the years. John Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie can be compared to those with the names Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. Multibillionaires, who know what the consumers desire, is what these men are best at. They knew and now know business well enough to be able to control our country’s’ economy. However, these successful business men do not do it together.

The charge about the old days of the American economy—the nineteenth century, the “Gilded Age,” the era of the “robber barons”—was that it was always beset by a cycle of boom and bust. Whatever nice runs of expansion and opportunity that did come, they always seemed to be coupled with a pretty cataclysmic depression right around the corner. Boom and bust, boom and bust—this was the necessary pattern of the American economy in its primitive state. In the US, in the modern era, all this was smoothed out.

Herbert Hoover On August 10, 1874 Herbert Hoover was born in Iowa. He was the second child of three.

Late in life, Rockefeller devoted himself to philanthropy. John. D. Rockefeller earned a living through hard work and not the abuse of others.

Born in Richford, New York in 1839, John Davison Rockefeller was the second child of his parents and had five siblings. He did not have an easy and wealthy childhood as his father was a part-time salesman and a full-time philanderer. Therefore, his mother always struggled hard for their livelihood and her first son had to stay away from his family to make more money for lengthy periods. Young Rockefeller helped with the general household chores and also earned extra income by raising turkeys and selling potatoes and candy. People described the young Rockefeller as a well-mannered, earnest and studious boy.

The four businessmen are Captains of Industry, they are Captains of Industry because they donated millions of dollars and some donated their personal collections to places. Eastman supported dental clinics for children who could not afford treatment and donated $2.5 million for the dental clinics in Rochester (website). Moreover he cared for children who were poor and didn’t have a lot of money. By supporting dental clinics for children, the children will grow up as the next generation and help others. Even Rockefeller was also a Captain of Industry because he donated $50,000,000 the board to raise academic salaries, he founded the General Education Board in 1903 to establish high schools throughout the South (reading).

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.

ANDREW CARNEGIE—THE ROBBER BARON Andrew Carnegie was one of the greatest of the tycoons of industry in the late nineteenth century, also being one of the greatest of the robber barons of the late nineteenth century. A Robber Baron is an owner of business who puts others down to gain fame and fortune. During a time of laissez faire, which is French for let alone, meaning government stays out of the business of others, any business owner could do whatever they wanted with their industry and workers—Carnegie took advantage of this by paying workers little salary and poor treatment. Some say that his past dictated what his future would be like—growing up poor meant others should grow up poor. With all of his money and power, he considered himself

Although the exact year of his birth is unknown, it is believed that George Walton was born sometime between 1940-50. He was born in Prince Edward Virginia to Robert and Mary Walton. His grandfather, also George Walton, had moved from England to Virginia in 1682. Walton’s family was poor and by the age of twelve, he was an orphan. Due to the death of his parents, Walton became an apprentice at a young age.

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.

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.

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.

On Friday, March 3, 2017, the students at Montevallo High School had a special speaker visit. His name is Jesse Jackson. The name sounds familiar because Jackson worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement. Jesse Jackson was born on October 8, 1941 in Greenville, South Carolina. When his mother was sixteen he was born out of wedlock to professional boxer and well-known figure in the black community, Noah Louis Robinson.

Robber Barons vs Captains of Industries The Industrial age was a period of economic and manufacturing growth full of mass production and expansion of large industries. During this time there were people who were called Captains of Industry who were leaders and innovators of business who employ thousands of workers and establish philanthropic foundations (charities). For example, John D. Rockefeller donated to many different charities to help other people. Also people called Robber Barons which were people who amassed great wealth through unfair and questionable business practices who used their money to gain power. For example, Cornelius Vanderbilt never spent his money on anything besides donating one million dollars to the construction