Robber Barons Research Paper

Improved Essays
Robber barons were detrimental in the development of American industrialization in the late 19th century. The term Robber Barons has a derogatory term applied to powerful, wealthy, and industrialists. Robber Barons were entrepreneurs whom many considered selfish and to be involved in activities such as dirty business schemes. Many small businesses were driven into debt having to file bankruptcy due to the monopolies created by Robber Barons. Most of the working class had built a hatred for Robber barons due to the activities that have affected them. For example, Homestead factory, which was owned by Carnegie had cut the wages of the skilled worker by 15% even though Carnegie Steel was the highly profitable leader, and on top of that, the workers …show more content…
Even though Robber Barons has derogatory connotation, it also has the connotation of the captains of industry due to their positive impact in the development in industrialization. They are referred to the captain of industry due to their creativity when capitalizing in growing industries led America to become a powerhouse nation. Regardless of the fact that many people had hated them due to the harsh condition, but Robber Barons have had improved the overall standards of living in America. Robber Barons were geniuses for capitalizing on the resources that were needed as a source for the industrialization of America. Robber barons also led to improvement in the government. Specifically, America’s government have a created laws to help make sure the country does not have anymore monopolist. The government’s checks and balance system also keeps people from getting what they want from corrupted members in the government. In the final analysis, Robber Barons were detrimental at the time, but they did make America a power house, make positive changes in the government, and as well increased standard of

Related Documents

  • Decent Essays

    Entrepreneurs wanted to gain as much power as possible. They wanted to maximize profits by paying workers a low wage and pay as little as they could for manufacturing. The individual appetite of corporations and people led to an individualistic hunger for success. Smaller companies began to be bought out and as a result there was a monopolistic approach to some business markets. Consumers had no choice but to purchase products at extremely high prices because businesses were allowed to set their own prices.…

    • 373 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Gilded Age Industry Dbq

    • 1345 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Industry DBQ The time period of 1870 to 1900, often called the Gilded Age, saw the rapid growth of corporations in number, size, and especially influence. To fully understand this time period, one must look at the context. Before this time period, the United States had recently ended the Civil War with the Union defeating the Confederacy. The Union was only able to win largely due to the growing industries which were rapidly developing in the North, while the South failed to industrialize greatly and mostly kept to agriculture. For example, the North had over twice the railroad lines of the South which would greatly impact the war as Northern forces could be transported quickly from one area to another.…

    • 1345 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Over the centuries, there have been countless conflicts to carry through time, such as war and battles. One conflict still carries through to today: should the Industrial leaders of the late 19th century be characterized more as “captains of industry” or “robber barons?” Two prominent figures to be noted are Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller. Neither was born into wealth, but rather, they earned it themselves through their success in the oil and steel businesses. But the question here is did they earn it?…

    • 458 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    While most of America found itself in a financial ditch dug by the Civil War, the country’s first industrial capitalists were rising, consolidating, and controlling the nation. According to an excerpt from A Call To Action, by Populist presidential candidate James B. Weaver, trusts used threats, intimidation, and wreck to build industrial empires. One such empire, the Standard Oil Company, was created by John D. Rockefeller. Rockefeller acquired his immense wealth by buying out competitors or driving them out of business by initiating rate wars. In doing so, he caused a severe loss of jobs and left the poorer class with a the sudden loss of work.…

    • 147 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Mark Twain described the 19th century as the “Gilded Age” which took place between 1870 and the1900’s. This era basically meant everything that looked or sounded good, was not exactly what it seemed. Causing many changes in the economic growth, “The Gilded Age” did not only affect the poor, it also affected the rich. As you guessed it, since the era occurred only 5 years after The Civil War, it negatively affected the poor and it positively affected the rich. Many (last) names you hear today, such as Andrew Carnegie, Henry Ford, J.P. Morgan, John D. Rockefeller and Cornelius Vanderbilt, are people who basically formed a monopoly together during this era, and caused so many of these economic changes.…

    • 378 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Jp Morgan Influence

    • 891 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Gilded Age was a time of American economic prowess thanks in large part to the influence of a few tycoons. However, some believe these tycoons were not the so-called “Titans of Industry,” but rather “Robber Barons.” J.P. Morgan, for example, is erroneously considered to be the latter due to his expansive sphere of influence. Nevertheless, J.P. Morgan is truly a “Titan of Industry.” On April 17, 1837, J.P. Morgan was born in Hartford, Connecticut, to parents Junius Spencer Morgan and Juliet Pierpont (Wepman 1).…

    • 891 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Industrial Revolution Dbq

    • 1407 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Throughout time we humans as a civilization we always strive for a better existence. During the 20th century in America there was much conflict surrounding social, economic and political issue that enamored the country for a very long time indeed and still to this day affects us. This is why the industrial revolution in America was prosperous, but like anything else in the world what goes up must come down. During this time period many Americans were trying to find there way throughout life and live a long and healthy life this part of history is not often taught in schools. Many people such as Cashman often refer to this time period as heyday of the robber barons” (2).…

    • 1407 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Robber Baron Essay

    • 643 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Robber Baron refers to the industrial businessmen of the nineteenth century (Stiles, “Robber”). “It conjures up visions of titanic monopolists who crushed competitors, rigged markets, and corrupted governments. In their greed and power, legend has it they held sway over helpless democracy,” (Stiles, “Robber”). Founding the debates over government regulation and private enterprise or opportunity and equality, these industrial titans were either condemned as robber barons or praised as captains of industry. A challenger and spoiler, Cornelius Vanderbilt was considered, according to the New York Times editor, a robber baron (Stiles, “Robber”).…

    • 643 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Post-Civil War Era

    • 631 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Generally recognized as the “Second Industrial Revolution after the Civil War, the era lasted around 1870-1914, a time when America’s economy considerably grew. During this time, American manufacturing production considerably grew, railroad miles tripled, and production in coal mining and steel boomed. The industrial transformation during the post-Civil War era provided many consequences, both costs and benefits, ultimately developing America’s economy. The industrial revolution during the post-Civil War era gave many benefits.…

    • 631 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Reformers established regulations. Big businesses caused botheration that was driven by industrialization. Andrew Carnegie, an industrialist, delivered concerns regarding unequal distribution of wealth to the poor. In his article, “Gospel of Wealth,” Carnegie shares his belief that the duty of the wealth is to support the poverty-stricken by being a “caretaker for the poor.” Theodore Roosevelt closed down John D. Rockefellers, “Standard Oil” company because it had corrupt ideals.…

    • 494 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    “Captains of industry” was another name used since the personal wealth gained by these men helped lead the United States into an industrial age. Known for their illegal methods, robber barons formed monopolies by buying out all of their competition, bribed politicians, and took advantage of the stock market. Jay Gould used the railroad to his advantage, he bought stocks in order to take control and then threatened his competitors until they had no choice but to buy the stocks at high prices. Gould along with Jim Fisk got involved in a fight with Cornelius Vanderbilt to control the Erie Railroad. Stock were watered down and judges were bribed, eventually, Vanderbilt lost the battle and surrendered.…

    • 1542 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Rockefeller created a monopoly, making him a robber baron. Rockefeller was a robber baron, but he was also a captain of industry. He treated…

    • 436 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The rise of industrialization at the end of the 19th century could be perceived two different ways. Although large scale capitalists had managed to create a boom within the American economy by creating Monopolies that made the capitalists wealthy beyond measure, the view of the general public was fearful. For it was the working class man that truly felt the harsh conditions they were subject to across all industries. In the gilded age, Chicago meatpacking company was the standard for how raw meats would be processed and distributed amongst the nation. It was the head of the meat industry; with the meatpacking industry thousands of jobs were available, yet it was because of monopoly capitalism that the workers of this company were afraid.…

    • 721 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Gilded Age

    • 998 Words
    • 4 Pages

    These unscrupulous men were a key part of the Gilded Age due to the fact that their dishonest activities helped shape American society and industries. One of the most famous robber barons is Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie is known for his overwhelming fortune in the steel industry. Due to the fact that many innovations that were flourishing needed steel, his industry grew bigger and bigger by the year. The Carnegie Steel Corporation was the largest steel manufacturing corporation in the world!…

    • 998 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “The Myth of the Robber Barons” by Burton W. Folsom, Jr sheds a different perspective about early entrepreneurs in early America. The book portrays some key entrepreneurs as the reason for economic growth of the United States and America’s greatness. It also argues the misconception and mislabeling of “Robber Barons” of the 19th century. People named “Robber Barons” had a negative connotation attached to their name but Folsom argues that Robber Barons tremendously helped America and have been greatly misconceived. He dives into this criterion in seven chapters in his book that we will discuss.…

    • 1151 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays