Write a short essay response to ONE of the following questions:
Were the industrial titans of the Gilded Age “robber barons” seeking profit at the expense of their workforce,
The Robber Barons
What is a robber baron? a person who has become rich through ruthless and unscrupulous business practices (originally concerning prominent US businessmen in the late 19th century):
J.P. Morgan organized several major railroads and consolidated the United States Steel, International Harvester, and General Electric corporations1.
He bailed out the US government.
Andrew Carnegie led the enormous expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century1235.
Cornelius Vanderbilt, a shipping and railroad magnate controlled the railroad industry during the 19th century125.
George Pullman, the inventor of the Pullman sleeping car1.
Henry Clay Frick, who helped build the world’s largest coke and steel operations1.
Among common criticisms of the early robber barons included poor working conditions for employees, selfishness, and greed. Some robber barons—including Robert Fulton, Edward K. Collins, and Leland Stanford—earned their wealth through political entrepreneurship.
Many wealthy railroad tycoons during the 1800s received privileged access and financing from the government via the extensive use of lobbyists. They received monopolistic special licenses, per-mile subsidies, huge land grants, and low-interest loans.
Introduction: What is a robber baron? a person who has become rich through ruthless and unscrupulous business practices (originally concerning prominent US businessmen in the late 19th century):
The rise of industrialization of the 19th century
The titans of the Gilded age were: J.P. Morgan organized several major railroads and consolidated the United States Steel, International Harvester, and General Electric corporations.
He bailed out the US Government
Andrew Carnegie led the enormous expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century1235.
Cornelius Vanderbilt, a shipping and railroad magnate controlled the railroad industry during the 19th century125.
Thesis Statement: The industrial titans of the Gilded Age were “robber barons” because of their exploitation of workers, their monopolization of industries, and outside political influence.
Body Paragraph 1:
Examples of the robber barons exploited workers.
Robber Barons exploited workers by paying low wages, forcing them to work long hours in dangerous conditions, and using violence to suppress labor movements12. They resisted efforts to form unions or improve labor conditions, leading to widespread labor unrest and strikes2. The result was a working class that was trapped in a cycle of poverty, with no hope of upward mobility1.
Child labor law
Child Labor in the Gilded Age:
The Gilded Age, characterized by rapid industrialization and economic growth, saw the emergence of powerful industrialists. These “robber barons” often relied on child labor to boost their profits.
Children, some as young as five or six years old, worked long hours in factories, mines, and textile mills. They operated heavy machinery, endured hazardous conditions, and received meager pay.
The need for cheap labor drove employers to exploit children, as they could operate power-driven machines effectively2.
Wages
The worker’s wages were significantly low. The robber barons were making millions off their workers.
These industrialists were notorious for unethical tactics. They exploited workers, paid little attention to customer needs, and engaged in fraudulent practices.
Union
Body Paragraph 2:
Their monopolization
A chief complaint against the 19th-century capitalists was that they were monopolists. Fear over the robber barons and their monopoly practices increased public support for the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890.
The robber barons transformed the wealth of the American frontier into vast financial empires, amassing their fortunes by monopolizing essential industries. In turn, these monopolies were built upon the liberal use of tactics that are today the hallmark of organized crime: intimidation, violence, corruption, conspiracies, and fraud.
Robber barons often controlled entire industries by forming trusts or monopolies. They eliminated competition by acquiring rival companies, allowing them to dominate markets and set prices.
For example, John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Company achieved a near-monopoly in the oil industry, controlling production, refining, and distribution
Body Paragraph 3:
The outside political influence.
The wealth of robber barons allowed them to exert considerable political influence. They used their financial powers.
Lobbyist
er to sway politicians and protect their interests.
Jay Gould, a railroad magnate, was known for his political maneuvering and control over legislators. J.P. Morgan bailing out the government.
In conclusion:
Reinstate the thesis statement
Bring all the points together.
Works Cited
Exploitation: Unveiling the Exploitative Practices of Robber Barons. (n.d.). FasterCapital. Retrieved May 29, 2024, from https://fastercapital.com/content/Exploitation–Unveiling-the-Exploitative-Practices-of-Robber-Barons.html
Kenton, W. (2020). What Are Robber Barons? Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/robberbarons.asp
Robb, L. (2019). Research Guides: Gilded Age Industrialists: Gilded Age & Robber Barons. Libguides.rccc.edu. https://libguides.rccc.edu/gildedageindustrialists/barrons#:~:text=Robber%20Baron%3A%20%22the%20name%20given%20nineteenth-century%20industrial%20and
Schneider, S. (2024, February 9). Britannica Money. Www.britannica.com. https://www.britannica.com/money/robber-baron
(2022). Study.com. https://study.com/academy/lesson/andrew-carnegie-and-the-robber-barons.html