Robber Barons: John D. Rockefeller

Words: 1178
Pages: 5
Open Document
Robber Barons shaped modern America. Robber Barons are big business leaders that monopolized industries to create an era known as the industrial age. They gave America the resources the United States needed to structure the modern nation. One of the most famous robber barons is John D. Rockefeller. John D. Rockefeller monopolized the oil industry to provide the United States of America with oil it needed. Furthermore, John D. Rockefeller eliminated competition by taking over people’s oil business to form his monopoly. However, apart from his egocentric actions, he was a leader and a philanthropist. He was a leader because he helped shape modern America. Without Rockefeller, America would not have the resources that made our country strong and …show more content…
Rockefeller may have seemed to give harsh working conditions to his employees and was harsh on competition, however evidence suggests otherwise. He gave employees long working hours, unsafe working conditions, and without any sort of benefits. However, this was the social norm during this time. Many industries in the urban areas had similar working conditions and experiences. It was not until the idea of better conditions and benefits; people began wanting a change in businesses. Furthermore, in the article “The New Tycoons: John D. Rockefeller” by the Independence Hall Association it states, “Critics charged that his labor practices were unfair. Employees pointed out that he could have paid his workers a fairer wage and settled for being a half-billionaire.” Although John D. Rockefeller was highly wealthy, that has nothing to do why workers were being paid the social norm for a regular industry worker. Furthermore, John D. Rockefeller was one of the various industrial leaders who gave low pay because in the late 1800s that was the social norm. Furthermore, in “John D. Rockefeller Oil Baron and Philanthropist” by Rosemary Laughlin it states, “Rockefeller's relationship with his employees was courteous and cordial” (Laughlin). John D. Rockefeller was actually very respectful and caring with his employees, which counters many claims about the treatment to his workers. Conditions may have not been sanitary or safe but without government regulation, it was not John D. …show more content…
Rockefeller may seem evil to some people, Rockefeller was actually a highly giving person. People who see Rockefeller as a negative person are only pessimistic and do not like to see the positive actions he has done. Becoming one of the wealthiest man during his era, “… Rockefeller began buying and building nice homes” (Laughlin). Society was tough. There were environmental problems and sanitation problems including people’s waste in the streets along with dead horses was to be seen as a norm. People struggled with jobs, however John D. Rockefeller was forgiving to the people. He made society a better place back then and now. He gave back to the people and his philanthropic actions contributed for a stronger community and society. In the article “John D. Rockefeller” by William McGuire and Leslie Wheeler it states, “while the public criticized and even condemned Rockefeller, he quietly gave much of his money away to charities and educational institutions, often under the guidance of the Baptist church in which he had long been a lay leader” (William McGuire and Leslie Wheeler). John D. Rockefeller believed that god made him rich however he also believed that god made him rich because he was supposed help the people and the community. His philanthropy contributed to form a strong nation by helping universities to help educate students of the future. Furthermore, in the article “The New Tycoons: John D. Rockefeller” by the Independence Hall Association it
Show More

Related Documents: Robber Barons: John D. Rockefeller

Robber Baron: JP Morgan, John D Rockefeller, And Andrew Carnegie

" Robber Baron" is a term used to describe American capitalists from the 19th century who used questionable or unethical means to attain their wealth. Some of these are well known names; JP Morgan, John D Rockefeller, and Andrew Carnegie. These were very wealthy buisnessmen who people believed were only interested in " lining their pockets and cared very little for the average working man" Andrew Carnegie moved very quickly up the ranks in jobs he did starting from the age of 13 when he arrived…

Words 396 - Pages 2

How Did Jay Gould Be Considered Robber Barons

There were many famous industrialists during the 19th century. To a great extent, they can be considered robber barons because they used unfair tactics to gain an advantage over their rivals. Examples of Robber barons were John D. Rockefeller in the oil industry and Jay Gould in the railroad industry. These robber barons were wealthy and powerful due to a plethora of methods that they used to become the top business of their industry. They maintained power by eliminating competition and forcing rival…

Words 476 - Pages 2

Robber Barons

Robber Barons or Captains of Industry? Centuries have passed since great industrialist helped form America, but the debate still remains. Many industrialist are considered to be robber barons because of their tactics. People like CorneliusVanderbilt , John D. Rockeller, Andrew Carnegie, and J.P. Morgan, were often premeditated to be predatory and ruthless. Each capitalist subsidized to our economy today. These ingenious tycoons were captains of the industry. One of America’s Builders, Andrew Carnegie…

Words 630 - Pages 3

Tycoons: John d. Rockefeller Essay

John D. Rockefeller From rags to riches John D. Rockefeller arose from nothing. As a boy he sold candy on the streets to help provide for his family. Thus proof of his entrepreneurial and ambitious characteristics early in life. By his twenties, Rockefeller was the driving force behind the creation of the Standard Oil Company, and shortly after in his thirties Rockefeller became a billionaire holding one of the first monopolies in oil in the United States. John D. Rockefeller owned ninety percent…

Words 419 - Pages 2

Compare And Contrast The Three Robber Barons During The Gilded Age

forcing the children to work at a very young age. The poverty stricken the middle class and the wealthy. The political parties were all from the wealthy and the middle class. The “robber barons”, two major depressions and the labor unions were added to the gilded age. The three “robber barons” Andrew Carnegie, John S. Rockefeller, and J.P. Morgan were known as the three most powerful men in the time of the Gilded age. These three men didn’t develop their power and wealth calmly and by good means. Andrew…

Words 134 - Pages 1

jd rockkafeller Essay

people make Bill Gates go hungry. People like Cornelius Vanderbilt and John D. Rockefeller who made a lot of money with the monopoly that was going on in that time. Unlike Vanderbilt, Rockefeller wasn’t a robber baron or a greedy business man. What made Rockefeller a Capitan of Industry is that he played with respect to his competitors, he also treated his consumers fairly and he was also a philanthropist. When Rockefeller was young his parents showed him how to save and work hard for what he got…

Words 700 - Pages 3

Essay about The gilded age

gold, but underneath this superficial image, was much corruption. Robber barons that sprung up misused their power and took control of the economy and also plagued American politics. While these robber barons capitalized on America’s rapid expansion of wealth, industrial workers were left to endure miserable working conditions and were hidden behind the nation’s shallow façade. Powerful business men such as John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie used their companies to bring in large profits…

Words 777 - Pages 4

How Did The Second Industrial Revolution Affect The Economy

The Robber Barons owned most of the businesses and forced others out of business. The train system was owned by Cornelius Vanderbilt. He started out with the steam ship business but decided he would work in the railroad business. He bought up all the industries that he had to use to make his railroads, like the steel makers and the other critical pieces that you have to have for the creation of railroads. John D. Rockefeller was another big robber baron. John D. Rockefeller built the first…

Words 1163 - Pages 5

Gilded Age Dbq Analysis

The Gilded Age was a time of industrial development, new immigrants and labor unions. Industrial developments led to monopolies, which helped men like Vanderbilt and Rockefeller prosper, but exploited the poor, often immigrant, workers who were willing to work for cheap money. Though the robber barons were a minority of the population, they still held a majority of the country’s wealth. This unequal distribution of wealth and poor working environments led to the formation and rise of labor unions…

Words 1135 - Pages 5

Wealth Disparity In The Gilded Age

class” became stronger. Regrettably, this age of wealth and industry seemed to fade with time, but history has repeated itself. The U.S. is indeed experiencing a “New” Gilded Age, but at a more extreme degree than the last. After the appearance of “robber barons”, the modern era began to outshine its predecessor. Consequently, it holds a much harsher reality, when you closely observe the wealth disparity between classes. For these reasons, the “New” Gilded Age is real. Furthermore, just as it was a hundred…

Words 583 - Pages 3