Notes

Amanda Miller
May 16, 2016
Period 2
Captain of Industry or Robber Baron?
Men who Built America

A Robber Baron is a ruthless businessman who would stop at nothing to achieve great wealth. The opposite of Robber Baron could be thought of as a Captain of Industry. Captain of Industry is a creative thinker and business owner who helped make America wealthy. Someone who would be considered Baron would Sort of force, pressure, business owners to sell their company to him. A captain of Industry would donate much of wealth to the city.

As mentioned in the definition of Captain of Industry, someone would have to be a creative thinker. Cornelius Vanderbilt, one of the men who built America was cutthroat at times, but helped America become more wealthy with his creative thinking. I am in the middle on which side he would fall to. Cornelius Built railroads across the country that transported people and goods. Building the railroads created many jobs. Cornelius made train tickets cheaper so that everyone could afford to travel. Although he did some good for the country, he was ruthless and hardcore at many points in his career. He would buy out other businesses and then shut them down. This would create unemployment problems for the people who used to work at these companies. Although he would put businesses intentionally, he connected the country and helped in become a great world power.



John D. Rockefeller was strong in the oil company. He could be considered a Captain of Industry for lighting every home with his oil. He also showed creative thinking skills by transporting his oil through the pipelines instead of trains. He was intuitive and a smart businessman. His oil was sold for cheaper prices so that everyone could afford to light their homes. He did make some mistakes, but overall he helped make America a wealthier country.

Skyscrapers grew across the country, the work of Andrew Carnegie; the definition of Captain of Industry. He worked in the steel industry and was good at it. The building that he supplied steel for created many jobs. The country became wealthier thanks to him. He donated 90% of his fortune to the city. He built many libraries and donated to education. He made mistakes, as everyone does, but overall he was an amazing business owner and overall an amazing man.