Author Mark Twain described the latter half of the 19th century as the “Gilded Age. ” intending aureate. because of the economic chances that America had to offer during these times. However. there were some people who sought success selfishly before trying to revolutionise the economic system. The work forces who took advantage of these chances were more robber barons than they were industrial solons. More frequently than non. greed overcame their determinations as capitalists.
During the Gilded Age. the leaders of industry worked towards self-interest. and therefore were called “robber barons. ” In this clip period. the focal point of these barons was to gain as much money as possible. Many Americans were disgusted with this program. The less-than-fortunate ridiculed the greedy concern leaders and demanded equity ( physician. B ) . Several workers even hoped to achieve equality. and worked toward this end through work stoppages. such as the Pullman Strike of 1894. However. for the lucky 1s sitting at the top of the societal ladder. mass money-making was the first end. This was achieved through two different methods: perpendicular integrating and horizontal integrating. The latter was used by John D. Rockefeller. the male monarch of oil. Horizontal integrating is the procedure of purchasing the smaller companies that might vie with one company. For illustration. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Company smaller oil and gas companies ( physician. C ) .
Vertical integrating is the procedure of commanding all facets in a concern. The Gilded Age brought corporate greed at its fullest. particularly during the 1880s and 1890s. Industries. particularly the Standard Oil Company. were looked down upon. but nil could halt the power of those titanic concern imperiums ( physician. D ) . Thus was the life of a robber baron ; stomp out the competition. take as much money as possible. and ignore the hapless.
Despite the scandalous actions of the robber barons. industrial leaders were sometimes the shining illustrations of industrial solons. The greatest illustration was the economic revolution that occurred. America was. and is. made up of immigrants because it is widely know as the “land of chance. ” Here. a adult male could gain his populating depending on how difficult he works. The industrial leaders represented a common adult male gaining his wealth alternatively of inheriting it. For illustration. Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American who started with meager beginnings. His household was impoverished. and in 1851. he started working as a telegraph courier for $ 2. 50 a hebdomad. Through wise concern determinations over the old ages. he became a successful millionaire.
The class of gaining money brought a important alteration to the universe of finance ( physician. A ) . In fact. some Americans preferred this life style. Harmonizing to Carnegie’s “The Gospel of Wealth. ” the “irregularity of wealth” is better than “universal squalor” ( physician. Tocopherol ) . He means that it’s plausible for the hapless to go the rich. and the rich to assist the hapless. He. among other greats like Rockefeller. felt it was of import to give back to society. Some enterprisers donated 1000000s to others. therefore going great industrial leaders ( physician. H ) .
In general. the industrial leaders of the 19th century were robber barons before industrial solons. However. now that America is cognizant of the good that concern colossuss can make. possibly future coevalss will take after the solons.
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Documents specified in the 2005 AP American inquiries
