The Men Who Built America Episode 1 starts 5 Days after the Civil War, which was known as the bloodiest conflict with 6,000 deaths adding one of the greatest, Abraham Lincoln.
This episode was about how the railroads had come together. The railroads started with Cornelius Vanderbilt. He began his journey starting with a single ferry that had later on become many ships. His ships were used to transport goods. Vanderbilt later on in life then decided to sell all of ships and invest in railroads. By the end of the war Vanderbilt was the richest man in America with a net worth over $68 million dollars.
In 1866 Vanderbilt is known to own the only rail bridge into New York City. He sets up a blockade on that bridge that makes all of the NY shares …show more content…
He has vowed to never be tricked again. He finds that oil is the opportunity to cash in. Oil is revolutionizing life in America. It’s from the ground and found in kerosene. It is safe, inexpensive source of light that could put Vanderbilt back on top. The demand for it is skyrocketing in America. He could ship the oil, all he has to find is a supplier. He has found the perfect mark to ship it. Cleveland is a sitting spot on an ocean of oil and John D. Rockefeller is one oil supplier. Rockefeller’s business is on the verge of bankruptcy, and Vanderbilt sees him as the perfect opportunity to manipulate him. Rockefeller sees his meeting with Vanderbilt as the opportunity of a lifetime to save his company. Rockefeller has agreed to fill carts of oil to Vanderbilt everyday. The only problem is that Rockefeller has no way to produce that much of kerosene everyday. To produce as much as he has promised, Rockefeller needs to find investors. The problem with that, is Kerosene is getting a bad name. With starting fires and burning down houses and buildings it makes investors skeptical. Standard Oil, only company to guarantee a uniform quality of kerosene. It quiets fear and brings out investors. Standard Oil is now the largest producer of refined kerosene in the
This episode was about how the railroads had come together. The railroads started with Cornelius Vanderbilt. He began his journey starting with a single ferry that had later on become many ships. His ships were used to transport goods. Vanderbilt later on in life then decided to sell all of ships and invest in railroads. By the end of the war Vanderbilt was the richest man in America with a net worth over $68 million dollars.
In 1866 Vanderbilt is known to own the only rail bridge into New York City. He sets up a blockade on that bridge that makes all of the NY shares …show more content…
He has vowed to never be tricked again. He finds that oil is the opportunity to cash in. Oil is revolutionizing life in America. It’s from the ground and found in kerosene. It is safe, inexpensive source of light that could put Vanderbilt back on top. The demand for it is skyrocketing in America. He could ship the oil, all he has to find is a supplier. He has found the perfect mark to ship it. Cleveland is a sitting spot on an ocean of oil and John D. Rockefeller is one oil supplier. Rockefeller’s business is on the verge of bankruptcy, and Vanderbilt sees him as the perfect opportunity to manipulate him. Rockefeller sees his meeting with Vanderbilt as the opportunity of a lifetime to save his company. Rockefeller has agreed to fill carts of oil to Vanderbilt everyday. The only problem is that Rockefeller has no way to produce that much of kerosene everyday. To produce as much as he has promised, Rockefeller needs to find investors. The problem with that, is Kerosene is getting a bad name. With starting fires and burning down houses and buildings it makes investors skeptical. Standard Oil, only company to guarantee a uniform quality of kerosene. It quiets fear and brings out investors. Standard Oil is now the largest producer of refined kerosene in the