What Extent Was Andrew Carnegie A Robber Baron Or A Captain Of Industry

Although some of these criticisms are well founded, men like Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller were, in fact, Captains of Industry because they employed millions and created new ways of doing business. Before all these industrialists can along, America was just another country that had little significance to the world. If it was not for them, we as a nation would not be where we are today. The industrialists prospered mainly due to their wit, and the many innovations that they brought to their various fields of business. They created monopolies because they were the most effective forms of enterprise, and there were no laws that prohibited or restricted their use. As John D. Rockefeller himself said, "I believe in the spirit of combination and cooperation when properly conducted….It helps to reduce waste, and waste is a dissipation of power."(Danzer 424) Critics say that these men ruthlessly took over their fields of business, and "did not play fair". What's wrong with striving for success? What's wrong with being efficient? What's wrong with making a product that no one can equal? What's wrong with besting your competitors? Nothing.

The article “John D. Rockefeller: America’s First Billionaire” written by Robert L. Heilbroner displayed a thesis of “Rockefeller was a greedy monopolist who crushed competitors ruthlessly, yet he typified the perfect industrial statesman.” The article states numerous reasons on how Rockefeller was a money scavenger with no regard to other humans, but it also illustrates how he was one of the most successful businessmen. Initially, Heilbroner states, “Rockefeller wanted to own all of the oil and all of the railroads, to create his vast empire.” In accordance, Rockefeller contained about 95% of the oil from simply buying out his competitors. Consequently, Rockefeller also became one of the richest men in American history with his empire. The

Carnegie gave people several gifts that he used to help himself like Homestead Relief Fund that was worth 4 million dollars, which helped him out in different ways for it for example helped out the steel workers to keep them in a better shape to do more work, kept their small hopes up and gave him a much better image(Doc N, Doc O). Carnegie was able to give away these big gifts because he was lowering the wages of his workers to do so, which The Saturday Globe shows very well in their picture(Doc O). Andrew Carnegie started his business in the american steel industry that he had created because of him studying how the english made steel. Because of him getting so early, compared to his later competitors, in the steel industry he managed to vertical intergrate all the steps for steel production, shipping and selling.

According to The Saturday Globe, Utica, New York, Andrew Carnegie was an industrialist, business magnate, and philanthropist during the late 19th century. Andrew Carnegie, the most

Andrew Carnegie. Who was he? Was he just a robber baron or a captain of industry. Andrew was a self made Entrepreneur in the late 1800s. He was the owner of the Carnegie Steel Company which monopolized the steel industry. In 1889 he wrote the famous “Gospel of Wealth” which made the use of libraries to give to the worthy poor that were smart to use them. He also gave away 350 million dollars. On the other side Carnegie’s steel workers were treated poorly by long working hours and reduced wages. He also gave support to the plant manager Henry Frick who hired Pinkerton thugs to intimidate workers on strike and many were killed in the conflict. Andrew Carnegie was sometimes saw as a robber baron taking others money to give away not spending his own money On the other hand people saw him as a captain of industry giving to the worthy poor with libraries and millions of dollars.

Another Businessman who was partial to Robber Barons may have been John D. Rockefeller for his method of attaining a large share of the oil industry many believed that Rockefeller gained his power in the Oil Industry by somehow building a monopoly. However through careful of study Rockefeller simply used horizontal consolidation to bring different firms with the same business together. It could not be called a monopoly because they did not merge into one company. John D. Rockefeller did establish trusts or Board of Trusties, which controlled the entire process of making and controlling a product which was extremely similar to that of a monopoly. Because of Rockefeller's Horizontal Consolidation, he did not violate any laws. When he was also near the end of his life Rockefeller also like Carnegie engaged in philanthropy and gave back to the community. On more than one occasion businessmen have resorted to violence of their own by hiring the Pinker-tons to handle any upstart or union. “Those who have been ordered to carry out a task are not the ones stained by it, but those who have given the orders are.” Robber Barons were also excessively competitive and would attempt to either take control of a competitor or drive the business into the ground together. When they perform this, they start to develop monopolies to take total control of a product, which is not legal. Their competitive streak made them more prone to pollution and to the draining the

Andrew Carnegie was an important figure in America’s industrial scene in the 19th century. Carnegie had a positive impact on American society. He completely changed the steel industry with his Carnegie Steel Company. He believed that using his wealth for the community would make the world better. He donated a ton of money to things like education and the arts, which created many more opportunities for people.

The Gilded age was run by big business. It was the time of industrialization, little to no government intervention, and a lot of money for a small group of people. It’s hard to say if many of the prominent business men of this time were really robber barons or captains of industry. Andrew Carnegie might have donated most of his money to worthy causes but he also refused to give his workers better conditions and pay despite his yearly income of $25 million compared to their $380. Rockefeller likewise gave away a large part of his fortune but also engaged in dirty business practices. This fine line between being a robber baron or captain of industry might be common among the businessmen of the Gilded Age but what about our businessmen of today?

The Gilded Age was a time in American history when some of the most famous industrialists rose to power. These industrialists made good decisions and bad decisions which reflected them as Captains of Industry or Robber Barons. A Captain of Industry is used to describe someone who contributes positively to society. Robber Barons are businessmen who use unethical or questionable ways to gain power/wealth. Both terms were expressed during this time period by businessmen. The great industrialists of the Gilded Age show traits of being both Captains of Industry and Robber Barons.

The Gilded Age after the Civil War caused the American economy to grow drastically during the 1870s. Due to the manufacturing business spreading across the nation, entrepreneurs such as Andrew Carnegie, J.P Morgan and John D. Rockefeller were considered the “captains of industry” who helped grow the economy. But, there were some who believed these entrepreneurs were “robber barons,” as people who worked in the manufacturing business were treated badly, underpaid, and forced to work long hours in dangerous circumstances. Although these so called “captains of industries” may have helped the economy when it needed them the most, they perfectly represented the term given to their era, the Gilded Age, where their monopolies and gold exterior came from their dangerous and “robber baron” factory working.

During the Gilded Age, the United States saw an increase in the power of big businesses, many of which monopolized their industries. This time period, although it appeared successful from the outside, was filled with governmental corruption. Manipulated by the robber barons of the Gilded Age, the United States government fell victim to their control. Contrary to this downfall, the nation celebrated much success in the numerous life-changing inventions attributed to this era. With the invention of the internal combustion engine, among others, there also came a major increase in the demand for oil. Entering the flourishing oil business in 1870, John D. Rockefeller created the Standard Oil Company, which later dominated the entire oil industry. Although he had years filled with success in the business, Rockefeller faced a disastrous court case that dissolved his company and years of his hard work. Despite this catastrophic event, Rockefeller found other ways to contribute his knowledge and hard-work by making innumerable philanthropic donations. After many years and countless efforts, John D. Rockefeller had one of the most outstanding and positive influences on the United States through his work in the oil industry and his philanthropic actions.

Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919) was a major American industrialist in the late 19th century and after obtaining substantial wealth from his steel industry, became an advocate for giving back to the less fortunate. Carnegie’s desire to donate to those less fortunate came from past experiences, growing up as an immigrant and working in a cotton factory young. He knew and understood the hardships that people faced when not able to acquire the type of wealth he rose to earn. Through his long life this atypical businessman advocated for many and dedicated the later years of his life to promoting the general welfare of the world.

Andrew Carnegie was one of the wealthiest men in America but his wealth didn’t come without hard work and dedication. Carnegie was born in “Dunfermline, Scotland on November 25, 1835” (Tyle). According to Laura B. Tyle, the invention of the weaving machine unfortunately pushed Carnegie’s family in to poverty “In 1848, Carnegie’s family left Scotland and moved to Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, where his father and eventually him worked in a cotton factory” (Tyle). After leaving the cotton factory “Carnegie became a messenger boy for the Pittsburgh telegraph office and eventually made his way up to telegraph operator” (Tyle). According to Laura B. Tyle “Thomas A. Scott, the superintendent of the western division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, made Carnegie his secretary at the age of eighteen.” Later, Carnegie took over Scott’s position of the railroad. Furthermore Carnegie “began to see that steel was going to replace iron and by 1873 he organized a steel rail company” (Tyle). According to Laura B. Tyle he continued to build his company when he “cut prices, drove out competitors,

Andrew Carnegie, the “King of Steel”, the benevolent employer, the giant of industry, was among the greatest influences of the second industrial revolution. It is sometimes questioned whether Carnegie was the ruthless, sneaky steel tyrant some made him out to be, or the generous, benevolent education benefactor he appeared to be. I believe him to be a combination of both, but more so the great giant of industry.

     Let us first look at Mr. Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie was a mogul in the steel industry. Carnegie