Industrialists

Business, Labor, and Technology in the Gilded Age (1868-1922)
Called captains of industry, entrepreneurs like Carnegie and Rockefeller were also known as robber barons. These business tycoons built monopolistic corporations based on ruthless competition. Yet, they contributed millions to philanthropy. They were part of the Gilded Age in industry and railroads, a Second Industrial Revolution that shaped American business and economics. Ida Tarbell, an investigative journalist, revealed the monopolistic tactics of Standard Oil and was called a muckraker. Carnegie sought to undersell his competitors at all costs. Investigate the tyranny of company stores, the use of child labor, and the rise of labor unions.

http://www.theomahaproject.org

The New Tycoons: John D. Rockefeller
It took vision and drive to become the first billionaire in the United States and John D. Rockefeller had both. Read about the richest person in America at the turn of the century and decide for yourself if he was a robber baron or a captain of industry. Biographical facts at this web site include notes about his family, his early business experiences and his leadership of the Standard Oil Company. A photo and related links are included at the site.

http://www.ushistory.org

Jay Gould
Railroad baron, Jay Gould, amassed a personal fortune working in transportation and communication in the United States in the late 19th century. The self-proclaimed most hated man in the world was often seen as a manipulator of the government and an inconsiderate employer. Learn more about his fight with Commodore Vanderbilt for control of the Erie Railroad and the ensuing scandals. Although remembered as a speculator, Gould did contribute to the success of Western Union.

http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu