Rockefeller & Carnegie

            Many years after the Civil War ended, there was immense industrial growth in America. Due to the growth in industry there was a growth in the need for immigrant workers. Trusts and monopolies became common in the country and people known as captains of industry rose in power as well as in influence. During this time period there were two main captains of industry, John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie. While Rockefeller dominated in oil, Carnegie made his fortune in steel production. Although both men were huge business icons, not everyone agreed with how they ran their companies. Some referred to the two men as robber barons. These different opinions resulted in the question, should John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie be classified as robber barons or captains of industry?
            To answer this essential question the class divided into four groups. From those groups we were assigned a topic. The topics were Main Ideas, Key People, Essential Terms, and Important Events. We then proceeded to watch a series of short videos and take notes on our assigned topic. Next we read Rockefeller's biography as well as Carnegie's and again, took notes on our assigned topic. Once we were done with the biographies, we read through a document called Primary/Secondary Sources Lesson and took notes. After all the reading and note taking were done, as a class we made one,big Google Document and compiled all of our found information onto it.
            John D. Rockefeller, a man "mad for oil", deserves the title of a robber baron. An example of him being a robber baron can be found in his overall business strategy. His strategy was to keep his production costs low and waited until a business started to struggle. Once he saw them begin to struggle, he would come in and buy out that company. This strategy is how he created his monopoly across the country. Although this way of business was smart on Rockefeller's behalf, it was unjust and unfair for him to prey on other's misfortune. He believed that God had given them "great gifts" so that they could drill and refine oil. Rockefeller was also known for bribing politicians to ensure that most things went in his favor. This action shows his corrupt views on the economic system. He claimed that , "someday I'll be the richest man in the world." This statement came true when he ended his career with $900 million, making him the richest man in American history. Even though he retired with great wealth it was believed that everything he did, whether it was buying out businesses or even donating to charity, was motivated by his personal greed for more money. I agree with this statement because every one of his moves seemed calculated to benefit him in just the right and why I call him a robber baron as opposed to calling him a captain of industry.

"This political cartoon by Udo J. Keppler appeared in the September 7, 1904, issue of "Puck." It shows J.D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil tank as an octopus with many tentacles wrapped around the steel, copper, and shipping industries, as well as a state house, the U.S. Capitol, and one tentacle reaching for the White House, as it crushes the competition."

            Andrew Carnegie, a Scottish steel producer, can be proudly mentioned as a captain of industry. Carnegie spent millions of dollars to advance the education system as well as donate excess money on public needs, libraries, etc. He had a main belief when it came to what he was going to do with his fortune, the Gospel of Wealth. Briefly, the Gospel of Wealth was the idea that every man was made rich by God and has the duty to use his fortune for the good of the people. Also, he believed in rewarding his workers by recognizing their talent and hard work by promoting them in the ranks of management. As Carnegie traveled extensively though Europe he picked up the title of the best read and traveled American businessman of his time. Sadly, his well earned reputation was ruined by the Homestead Strike that happened at one of his steel plants in Homestead, PA. In my opinion the strike was a tragedy, but it doesn't cancel out all of the good Carnegie had previously done for the country and that is why I believe he deserves to be called a captain of industry rather than a robber baron.