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The richest business leaders of the 19th century
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ProfessorThe "robber barons" were industrialists and businessmen in the US during the late 19th and early 20th century. They were so called because their methods of enriching themselves were equated to feudal lords of medieval Europe, who stole from both travelers and serfs. The business methods they employed were widely viewed as illegal, immoral, unethical, or corrupt, taking every advantage over workers and consumers, and with little regard for anything but profit. Some of these became the wealthiest, most influential, and most famous individuals of their day, and their fortunes have enriched their descendants for generations.
Some persons associated with the term are :
- John Jacob Astor (real estate, fur) - New York City
- Andrew Carnegie (railroads, steel) - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Jay Cooke (finance) - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Charles Crocker (railroads) - California
- Daniel Drew (finance) - New York state
- James Buchanan Duke (tobacco) - near Durham, North Carolina
- James Fisk (finance) - New York state
- Henry Flagler (railroads, oil, the Standard Oil company) - New York City and Palm Beach, Florida
- Henry Ford (automobile) - Dearborn, Michigan and metropolitan Detroit, Michigan
- Henry Clay Frick (steel) - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and New York City
- John Warne Gates (steel, oil) - Chicago and Texas
- Jay Gould (finance, railroads) - New York (both state and city)
- Edward Henry Harriman (railroads) - New York state
- Collis P. Huntington (railroads) - California, Virginia, and New York
- Andrew Mellon (finance) - Pennsylvania
- J. P. Morgan (finance) - New York
- Mark Hopkins (railroads) - California
- John D. Rockefeller (oil) - Cleveland, Ohio
- Leland Stanford (railroads) - Sacramento, California and San Francisco, California
- Cornelius Vanderbilt (railroads, shipping) - New York City, New York
- James J. Hill (railroads) - St. Paul, Minnesota
- George Mortimer Pullman (railroads) - Pullman, Chicago
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Who in the US might not have liked the Progressives?
The Robber Barons and the "Bosses".
What did the Robber Barons do that was unfair?
In the eyes of the tradesmen who were usually their victims: everything. A tradesman who fell into his hands could consider himself lucky to survive the meeting, at best with only half of what he had before. Also, they were no Robin Hoods who stole from the rich to give to the poor. The robber barons also stole from the wretch to give to the peer, that is, themselves.
What were Robber Barons?
Robber Barons were wealthy businessmen who were known to use harsh practices to gain their wealth. They often used child or cheap labor, did not adhere to safety regulations and worked their employees long hours in order to keep production high.
Why were industry leaders knows as captains of industries and robber barons?
People accused them of using unfair business practices.
Are robber barons the same as carpetbaggers?
Robber barrons are not the same as carpetbaggers. Robber barrons is another name for captains of industry, these were leaders like Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller. They ran businesses during the Guilded Age. Carpet baggers are notherners who traveled south during reconstruction to take part in politics in the south. They were not recieved very well by southerners who were experiencing backlash from the Civil War.
