Robber Barons or Captains of Industry
Objective: Students will be able to define robber baron and captain of industry and evaluate which title best suits the industrialists of the Gilded Age.
1.) Search the web to find out what is meant by the terms "robber barons" and "captains of industry" during the Gilded Age. Write down definitions for both terms based on your research.
2.) Chose one of the industrialist below to research. Fill out the Robber Baron or Captain of Industry worksheet based on your research.
Andrew Carnegie
It shall be the rule for the workman to be Partner with Capital, the man of affairs giving his business experience, the working man in the mill his mechanical skill, to the company, both owners of the shares and so far equally interested in the success of their joint efforts.
—Andrew Carnegie
From the EDSITEment resource American Memory
Edgar Thomson Works, Carnegie Steel Co (Click on any of the images for photographs.)
From America's Library, a link from the EDSITEment resource American Memory
Andrew Carnegie Grows Up Working (Click "Next" for succeeding pages.)
Andrew Carnegie and His Parents (Click "Next" for succeeding pages.)
Andrew Carnegie Philanthropist (Click "Next" for succeeding pages.)
From The Richest Man in the World: Andrew Carnegie on The American Experience, a link from the EDSITEment resource Internet Public Library (NOTE: This site contains a great deal of information and documents relating to Carnegie, including those listed below.)
How to Succeed in Life by Andrew Carnegie on the EDSITEment resource Learner.org
The Gospel of Wealth on The Internet Modern History Sourcebook, an extension of the EDSITEment resource The Internet Medieval Sourcebook
Cornelius Vanderbilt
I have been insane on the subject of moneymaking all my life.
—Cornelius Vanderbilt
You have undertaken to cheat me. I won't sue you, for the law is too slow. I'll ruin you.
—Cornelius Vanderbilt
From the EDSITEment resource HarpWeek
Cartoon, "The Great Race for the Western Stakes" (and brief text)
A Business Biography of Cornelius Vanderbilt, available via a link from the EDSITEment resource Links to the Past
"Cornelius Vanderbilt" and "The Erie Railroad Wars" (move down the page until you locate the sections entitled "Cornelius Vanderbilt" and "The Erie Railroad Wars") from American History 102: Civil War to the Present, a link from the EDSITEment resource History Matters
J. Pierpont Morgan
From the EDSITEment resource Learner.org
Brief Biography from The American Experience, a link from the EDSITEment resource Internet Public Library
Biography of Morgan from Morgan Library a link from the EDSITEment resource American Memory
First Public Demonstration of Edison's Light Bulb from America's Library, a link from the EDSITEment resource American Memory
Morgan Finances Edison on The Smithsonian Museum of American History. (Note: This archival document and the previous article are here for their reference to Morgan as one of Edison's "main investors," showing how a financier like Morgan contributed to the American economy and quality of life.)
John D. Rockefeller
From American Experience: The Rockefellers from PBS
Standard Oil of New Jersey (move down the page until you locate the section entitled "Standard Oil of New Jersey") on American History 102: Civil War to the Present, a link from the EDSITEment resource History Matters
4.) Finish up the questions on the original worksheet. Then, we'll have a class discussion on the idea of robber barons and captains of industry.