The robber barons did take advantage of others misfortune. They capitalized on the fact that there was little regulations in place governing pay and worker's rights. They did have a lot of power and wealth and used it to control the labor market and stifle competition.
Andrew Carnegie had humble beginnings, at age thirteen he emigrated to the United States from Scotland. He created a company that controlled every aspect of steel production. Which at this time time was a huge deal with the need for steel.
John Rockefeller was an oil tycoon owning Standard. “By the 1880s, his Standard Oil Company controlled 90 percent of the nation's oil industry”. While both men seemed to buy out competitors and control as much aspects related to their businesses. John Rockefeller seemed to be more cutthroat than Andrew Carnegie. “He drove out rival firms through cutthroat competition, arranging secret deals with railroad companies, and fixing prices and production quotas” …show more content…
It could of have been out of guilt, a gesture for redemption, or it could have been completely genuine. Either way it was too little and too late. Both men did not care for the people that helped in strive for dominance. Both Rockefeller and Carnegie fought their employees from forming unions. It is easy to freely give out money when you have more than enough for a hundred lifetimes. However, it maybe cynical to think this but an overworking majority of people would probably not balance philanthropic cause while trying to get ahead. Too be fair though not many businessmen or businesswomen hinder themselves when trying to dominate a market. I think this quote summarizes the problem best. “Carnegie learned that life was a ceaseless struggle in which one must strive to get ahead or sink beneath the
Andrew Carnegie had humble beginnings, at age thirteen he emigrated to the United States from Scotland. He created a company that controlled every aspect of steel production. Which at this time time was a huge deal with the need for steel.
John Rockefeller was an oil tycoon owning Standard. “By the 1880s, his Standard Oil Company controlled 90 percent of the nation's oil industry”. While both men seemed to buy out competitors and control as much aspects related to their businesses. John Rockefeller seemed to be more cutthroat than Andrew Carnegie. “He drove out rival firms through cutthroat competition, arranging secret deals with railroad companies, and fixing prices and production quotas” …show more content…
It could of have been out of guilt, a gesture for redemption, or it could have been completely genuine. Either way it was too little and too late. Both men did not care for the people that helped in strive for dominance. Both Rockefeller and Carnegie fought their employees from forming unions. It is easy to freely give out money when you have more than enough for a hundred lifetimes. However, it maybe cynical to think this but an overworking majority of people would probably not balance philanthropic cause while trying to get ahead. Too be fair though not many businessmen or businesswomen hinder themselves when trying to dominate a market. I think this quote summarizes the problem best. “Carnegie learned that life was a ceaseless struggle in which one must strive to get ahead or sink beneath the