Carnegie and Rockefeller: Robber Barons or Captains of Industry

The essential question for this week is, were Carnegie and Rockefeller robber barons or captains of industry. Robber barons were seen as corrupt, unsportsmanlike. They bribed government officials, bought out or destroyed rivals, created giant monopolies and trusts and citizens had a love-hate relationship with them. Captains of industry were business leaders. This week we created a class google doc. and then we watched six videos on ABC Cleo and tooks notes. Every group was assigned a different topic, main ideas, key people, important events/key dates, essential terms. Once we watched the six videos each group had to analyze each of the four other documents and for this we also only took notes on the topic we were assigned to take notes on the videos for. After we had taken all the note we all agreed on an essential that would be answered in the blog post.

From 1865 to 1900 was the time of the uninterrupted industrial growth period. It was the time when industry boomed, Laissez faire capitalism became more popular, Immigrant labor was very popular and favored, transcontinental railroads was a goal, acts were passed that hurt those they were meant to protect, government did allow corporations to consolidate and die out, man's responsibility to drill and refine oil and the wealthy had a duty to give back to society. John D. Rockefeller created the Standard Oil Company, bought up rival companies and helped advance the economy. He was willing to drop his prices which had consumers always interested in him. Rockefeller also bribed politicians and gave to education. He was named the greatest business leader in American history. Although Rockefeller's ruthless and cutthroat business practices brought him tremendous wealth, his reputation with the public became severely damaged. Many suspected that Rockefeller and his associates had used illegal tactics and immoral business practices. Andrew Carnegie was known for strong production of steel in the U.S., used vertical integration where raw materials were controlled, transportation was controlled and so was manufacturing and sales. Carnegie was also notable as an philanthropist who gave millions of dollars to advance education, establish public libraries and promote world peace.

This picture shows two Andrew Carnegies showing that he had two sides to him. On one side (the right) Carnegie is giving the people land and money and is being very generous. On the other side (the left) Carnegie is giving someone a list of rules and regulations that they have to follow, instead of giving he is taking away. once people started to realize what he was doing people started to pity and have contempt towards him.

http://www.edline.net/files/_EfHIe_/cf8ad07e3892cfd73745a49013852ec4/Doug_Ernst-Inquiry_Lesson-Robber_or_Captain.pdf

Carnegie and Rockefeller were Robber barons. Both Carnegie and Rockefeller  were seen as corrupt and unsportsmanlike. They bribed government officials, bought out or destroyed rivals, created giant monopolies and trusts and citizens had a love-hate relationship with them. At first people thought both men were wonderful and great leaders but soon came to realize what they were actually doing which soon ruined their reputations to the public.

Sources:

http://americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Topics/Display/1187729?cid=140

http://www.edline.net/files/_EfGYe_/f55c55cde748ef0d3745a49013852ec4/John_D_Rockefeller_Bio.pdf

http://www.edline.net/files/_EfGX5_/a11882b861a51a603745a49013852ec4/Andrew_Carnegie_Bio.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9M_eDmpZsk&feature=youtu.be