...“The Men Who Built America” “The Men Who Built America” was based off of three men, Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, and Carnegie, each played a very important role in making America what it is today. Rockefeller made a monopoly off of standard oil. Vanderbilt made a monopoly of the railroad system in America while Carnegie made a monopoly from steel. The men had many accomplishments throughout their lives. John D. Rockefeller was born on July 8, 1839 and was an American industrialist and philanthropist. He founded Standard Oil which dominated the oil industry and became the first great U.S. business trust. Standard Oil began as an Ohio partnership formed by John D. Rockefeller, his brother William Rockefeller, Henry Flagler, Jabez Bostwick, chemistSamuel Andrews, and a silent partner, Stephen V. Harkness. Adjusting for inflation, he is often regarded as the richest person in history. Rockefeller spent the last 40 years of his life in retirement. His fortune was mainly used to create the modern systematic approach of targeted philanthropy. He was able to do this through the creation of foundations that had a major effect on medicine, education, and scientific research. When he died on May 23, 1937 he left his son John D. Rockefeller Jr. was entrusted with the supervisions of the foundations. Cornelius Vanderbilt was born on May 27, 1794 and was also an American industrialist and philanthropist. Vanderbilt made his fortune in the shipping and railroads industry. He was also the...
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...The men who allegedly built America had many privileges that are not allowed today because of many things that they did. Men like Andrew Carnegie, J.P. Morgan, Cornelius Vanderbilt, John D. Rockefeller, and Henry Ford did many things as a group that were unethical and unlawful, while creating ideas that did helped to further the business world, but the laws that were made to cover these laws and unethical things that they did been tightened down so much. Andrew Carnegie- Born on Nov. 25 in dunfermline, Scotland. He grew up poor and got a job at the age of 13 in a factory earning $1.20 a week. Andrew Carnegie’s mother lived with him until 1886 when she passed away. The following year he married Louise Whitfield(History.com). Andrew and Louise...
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...think the way Rockefeller lived and treated his people and workers would put him more in the category of a Robber Baron. In our text the is a nice with up help us understand what kind of man John Rockefeller was, “[Rockefeller’s company] killed its rivals, in brief, by getting the great trunk lines to refuse to give them transportation. Vanderbilt is reported to have said that there was but one man—Rockefeller—who could dictate to him”—H. D. Lloyd, The Atlantic, 1881 But I have to admit people change throughout their life, and Rockefeller did something that was quite astounding. He gave $500 million dollars to charity upon his death. I find that very impressive for a man with his reputation. “He was the first American to ever be worth over...
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...Immigrants came to America to find freedom and jobs, but it wasn’t what they wished for. Children went to work beside their families working in the factory; cotton, mines, etc. The harsh working conditions were dangerous for them, and they worked the same hours as their parents but earned only half of what their parents made. The Newspapers in Pennsylvania helped end the child labor law; children are sent back to school, and abolished child labor (CITE). The immigrant’s workers were not being treated with respect; they could not take breaks or they’d be fired. Workers did not like the working condition, and went on a strike and boycotted for equal pays, shorter hours and better working conditions. However, the strikes lead to hundreds of death and injuries. KOL: Knights of Labor created an organization that gave freedom, rights to the labor workers as well as removal or unjust discrimination (CITE). As a result, congress passed a law on August 28, 1893, making labor a holiday on the beginning of every September (S.730, p. 1). “Labor day” gave workers a day off to rest from...
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...Abstract In the short span of 55 years between 1865 and 1920 the Industrial Revolution brought vast expansion of big business and a change to the American people. Lad by Henry Ford’s assembly line industrial powers such as Carnegie, Huntington, and Rockefeller emerged and built their empires. Birthed from these industrial empires we witnessed the growth of legislation and laws that where susceptible to manipulation by the development of corrupt politics. With the surge in technology, growth of super powers, environmental issues, government legislation, or corrupt business practices or corrupt government the industrial revolution exploded in a time where change was needed to draw the American eye away from the deadly Civil War, which so many where still attached to, and focus on the theoretical idea “a better way of life”. The Industrial Revolution was sold to the American people with the false since that if you work hard you will acquire wealth. This lie to the populace was met with a flood of American and immigrant workers that swarmed to the workforce for low wages and unhealthy work environments. Imbedding this idea into the American workforce the Industrial Revolution spawned business power houses like Carnegie, Huntington, Ford, and Rockefeller. The Industrial Revolution also bestowed on us the corrupt business and political practices that shaped the laws and regulations that are practiced today. The Industrial Revolution saw itself spawn from three industries...
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...The Men who built America: a True Tale of Innovation Change is an inevitable fact of life and it also applies in the world of business in countless ways. Staying ahead of the crowd of competitors is part of innovation and the greatest business pioneers of our time were the best at adapting to the environment that surrounded them and their influence. “The Men who Built America” shows many interesting parts of the business world both good and bad. Hostile takeovers and buyouts were byproducts of the tension between competing industries and business tycoons, especially in the midst of the Industrial Revolution of early America. Many traits are represented in great business leaders but innovating may be the single best thing to be skilled at. Cornelius Vanderbilt was originally one of the first of many American pioneers and he thrived in setting new trends and finding ways to step ahead of competition. Innovation was his biggest ally in overcoming the rivals in his industry. He originally started with a shipping business that he brought up from nothing and soon used big ships to transport numerous kinds of materials to both the east and west coasts of the country. When the railroad industry was first taking off, Vanderbilt saw a path of profit and potential. The shipping business he owned was one of the greatest companies of its time but Vanderbilt had the eye to see potential into a new type of business that was faster and more efficient. It also created larger profit...
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...millions. However, with this escalation of wealth among the rich, only made the vast chasm between rich and poor larger. When more and more people saw that railroads produced a good amount of money, they decided to invest into them as well. This upsurge of investments led to railroad overbuilding, causing railroads to compete for business. Social Darwinism raged throughout the Machine Age, “survival of the fittest,” as this rang true for corporations who wanted to surpass each other. Gentleman’s agreements were made, but those who wanted to “best” their competitor, refused to accommodate to the rules. The railroads had also helped people like Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller make money. Andrew Carnegie became rich after the steel industry overcame the iron industry, due to iron being to brittle for the railroads. John D. Rockefeller, had made millions after his Standard Oil Company preceded to control nine-tenths of the oil business. This was because oil had given railroads and boats a different source of fuel. Because of the railroads, the US had become the world's top leading industrial nation, producing iron, steel, and oil. The inventions that really altered society, was the farm machinery. Eli Whitney’s cotton gin, and threshers decreased production time and labor costs. With the machinery able to cut production time, the farmers were able to cultivate more land than before. The railroads were able to ship crops and allowed farmers to sell their produce to places miles...
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...perspectives, Historians truly view the leaders of the business in different forms. For one, some believe the leaders to be “robber barons;” in other words, it means that the leader had built their fortune by stealing from the public and driving competition into ruin. Nevertheless, some believed the leaders to be “captains of industry,” implying they were fair to the nation and in raising productivity, expanding markets, and establishing public structures. One of these leaders was John D. Rockefeller, a man who became one of the richest men in America in the oil business. As the leader of the Standard Oil Company, Rockefeller had much to give to the public and charities to benefit humanity as his goal. Another one of these leaders in Andrew Carnegie, a man who expanded the real of the steel business and also gave muc to the public. Much of Carnegie’s share to public eye went to education and public structures. Nevertheless, behind these nice images, they remain to be addressed as “Robber Barons” by...
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...The Second Industrial Revolution (1870-1914) was an important turning point in American and world history. New inventions, such as the lightbulb, completely transformed daily life for millions of people, allowing for safe and dependable light at all hours. Entrepreneurs like Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, and Henry Ford transformed the world of industry with mass production of products such as steal, oil, and automobiles. This uptick in production had several effects. The first was that the big companies made large quantities product in a short amount of time, changing the balance of supply and demand, lowering prices. Another effect of big business was that they generally outperformed and undermined small and family owned businesses,...
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...century. The railroads were the first “Big Businesses”, as they had to control and manage vast areas of track and all other interworkings of the businesses; they pioneered the creation of a managerial structure which determined who had control over what process within the business and how those people would then delegate each task to an individual or group. From a business aspect this is known as a “vertical structure” and was predominate far into the twentieth century. The new managerial structure spread to the majority of businesses at the time and allowed corporations to manage vast quantities of materials and products as cheaply as possible. Andrew Carnegie used this structure to refine his steel company into becoming the most efficient, most successful steel manufacturer in the world. Standard Oil, led by John D. Rockefeller, used this method to dominate the distribution of kerosene and gasoline by the end of the nineteenth century. By streamlining their businesses the entrepreneurial moguls of the time were able to amass massive amounts of wealth; however, this drive for success and wealth also caused a great number of hardships especially for the workers in...
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...Assignment 1.2 Industrialization After the Civil War Final Paper Student’s Name—Lacey Jaslaine Young Course Number –HIS 105 ------------------------------------------------- Quarter Name and Year—Fall Quarter 2015 ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- 1. Introduce your paper with your previously crafted thesis statement -After the Civil War, industrialization influenced the U.S. society, economy, and politics by the technological advances that were being introduced. The railroad industry, textile manufactures, mining, and mechanical tools are just a few of the many examples that were being introduced during the Industrial Revolution. These few examples are what changed the workforce atmosphere as we know it today, and opened many new doors for U.S. society to gain new skills that would be continued into modern society. 2. Identify three (3) major aspects of industrialization during 1865 ad 1920 that influenced U.S, society, economy, and politics. Consider issues such as geography, entrepreneurship, legislative representation, etc. Explain your responses with specific examples and details. A. The first aspect of industrialization that during 1865 and 1920 that influenced U.S. society, economy, and politics was the expansion of railroads. It created more job opportunities for...
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...automobile dependent upon growth of two technologies: creation of gasoline from crude oil extraction, and 1870s Eur development of “internal combustion engine”. By 1910 car industry major role in economy ii)First gas-car built by Duryea brothers 1903, Henry For began production 1906 iii)Search for flight by Wright Bros lead to famous 1903 flight. US govt created National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics 1915 to match Eur research c)Research and Development i)New industrial technologies lead companies to sponsor own research- General Electric established first corp lab 1900, marked decentralization of govt-sponsored research. At same time cnxn began btwn university research + needs of industrial economy- partnership btwn academic + commercial d)The Science of Production i)Principles of “scientific management” began to be employed- fathered by Frederick Taylor who argued employers subdivide tasks to decrease need for highly skilled workers, increase efficiency by doing simple tasks w/ machines ii)Emphasis on industrial research led to corporate labs (e.g. Edison’s Menlo Park) iii)Most impt change in production was mass production + assembly line. First used by Henry Ford in...
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...stated “American history contains much matter for pride and congratulation, and much matter for regret and humiliation”. And I think this statement is totally right but not enough. To begin with, one of the highlights of US’s economy is, basically, that they know how to grab the enrichment opportunity at a right time, in right place. This expressed clearly throughout the wars. America somehow used the smart tactics that could help them remain their economic benefits. In World War I, at the beginning, America chose to follow “neutrality policy”, when they have no reason to attend in a battle that was not their. However, there were many reasons that forced US to join into the war that they undesired. In 1915, the Lusitania's sinking with the death of innocent Americans was seen that the main external reason that affected strongly US’s decision to enter the war. Undeniably, the “act of aggression” of Germany, when they tried to ignite the fight between Mexico and America, also consolidated the decision. Moreover, the internal reason, as the safety of the “democratic ideology”, was a substantial factor that made the US change the original political orientation. Generally, no matter what the real reason was, the truth was that America, indeed, achieved a lot of economic benefits not only in wartime but also in postwar. On the other...
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...Jenny Ulery 01/12/15 5th Ch. 16 Study Questions - America’s Gilded Age: 1870-1890 1. The American economy thrived because of federal involvement, not the lack of it. How did the federal government actively promote industrial and agricultural development in this period? BE SPECIFIC. The federal government actively promoted industrial and agricultural development. It enacted high tariffs that protected American industry from foreign competition, granted land to railroad companies to encourage construction, and used the army to remove Indians form western land desired by farmers and mining companies. 2. Why were railroads so important to America’s second industrial revolution? What events demonstrate their influence on society, politics, and the economy? Spurred by private investment and massive grants of land and money by federal, state, and local governments, the number of miles of railroad track in the US tripped between 1860 and 1880 and tripled again by 1920, opening vast new areas to commercial farming and creating truly national market for manufactured goods. The growing population formed an ever-expanding market for the mass production, mass distribution, and mass marketing of goods, essential elements of a modern industrial economy. The railroads created 5 transcontinental lines and 4 times zones throughout the nation. 3. Why did organized efforts of farmers, workers, and local reformers largely fail to achieve substantive change in the Gilded Age...
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...Chapter 17 The Industrial Revolution Learning Outcomes After reading this chapter, you should be able to do the following: 17-1 Describe and discuss the development of the Industrial Revolution in America after the Civil War, concentrating on the major industries and their leaders. 17-2 Describe how America’s regional and local markets merged into one truly national market and how this influenced the consumer demand for products and services, as well as some of the costs associated with the transition. 17-3 Discuss the functioning of national, state, and local politics during the late 1800s. 17-4 Describe the formation of the early labor unions in the United States, including their goals, activities, and situations at the end of the nineteenth century. 290 C h apt e r 15 The Continued Move West “ The world that had consisted of small farms, artisans’ workshops, and small factories transformed into a full-scale industrial society. ” As the process of ensuring political, economic, and social rights of African Americans waned during the 1870s, most Americans turned their attenNo invention had more lasting impact than the incandestion to another transformation cent light bulb. brought on by the Civil War: the Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree Industrial Revolution. During 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 the half-century between 1865 and 1915, the United States evolved from a relative...
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