Robber Barons Vs Transcendentalists
The Role of the Government Robber Barons and Transcendentalists were two prominent groups of people in the United States during the time period post Civil War. Transcendentalists are people who believe in the philosophy that our knowledge of reality comes from an analysis of our own thought processes, rather than from scientific evidence. People who make profit through corrupt or questionable means are considered Robber Barons. In the article Resistance to Civil Government, the author Henry David Thoreau wrote, “That government is best which governs least” (Thoreau). Both Transcendentalists and Robber Barons would agree with this quote. According to the beliefs of the Robber Barons and Transcendentalists, an ideal government would be one that …show more content…
Robber Barons believed in a laissez-faire government. Robber Barons at this time were the wealthy owners of large businesses, and big businesses wanted a laissez-faire government. If the economy was run in a hands off way, it wouldn’t be regulated. Big business owners would not want a regulated economy because it would prevent them from expanding and getting more money. “Among the great misconceptions of the free economy is the widely-held belief that laissez-faire embodies a natural tendency toward monopoly concentration” (Reed). As Lawrence W. Reed points out, the idea that laissez-faire leads to an automatic efficiency monopoly in which companies earn their share of the market because of how good of a job it does compared to other companies in the same industry is false. Robber Barons such as Cornelius Vanderbilt, Andrew Carnegie, and John Rockefeller would have wanted a laissez-faire government because it creates a coercive monopoly. In this type of monopoly, companies bribe the government to give them subsidies or grants of exclusive privilege to make a profit. For example, “Leland Stanford, a former governor and US Senator from California, used his political connections to have the state pass laws prohibiting competition for his Central Pacific Railroad, and he and his business partners profited from this monopoly scheme” (DiLorenzo). Because of the corrupt ways Robber Barons got their wealth, this type of government was perfect for them. The Robber Barons would agree with Thoreau’s quote, because a hands off government would govern very
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557 Words | 3 PagesA “robber baron” is defined as one who uses immoral methods to get rich. John D. Rockefeller, king of oil and the owner of the Standard Oil Company, was known for these unscrupulous tactics. Rockefeller’s peculiar ideas of the “law of nature” in accordance with his “primitive savagery” allowed this stealthy businessman to manipulate his way to the top. Although Rockefeller’s oil monopoly attributed to the wealth of the American economy, he destroyed the morality of modest men to accomplish ultimate power and prestige making him one of the wealthiest industrialists during his time.
Why Is Leland Stanford Considered The Robber Barons Of The 19th Century
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1208 Words | 5 PagesPhillips-Fein’s writing provides historical examples that helped back her overall message of Invisible Hands; her message being that the business elites had heavy political influence during the four decades of the period. A book that can be compared to Phillips-Fein’s work is Jim Powell’s FDR's Folly: How Roosevelt and His New Deal Prolonged the Great Depression. In this writing we see more of a one sided view of liberalism with a lot of history based around Roosevelt rather than the conservative movement. However, in both writings we can trace a similarity in the New Deal and draw a conclusion that there were those who supported more government regulations and those who did not.
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134 Words | 1 PagesEven though Hoover wasn’t re-elected after 1933, his failed attempt at laissez-faire still affected the American people. An example of this is Roosevelt’s attempt at counteracting Hoover’s Rugged individualism. During Roosevelt’s campaign he promised a ‘New Deal’ for the American people, where, especially in comparison to Hoover’s: ‘laissev-faire’, the US government would be more involved with businesses and the country’s citizens. Summed up, the ‘New Deal’ was about doing everything to keep the country from disaster.
Robber Barons During The Gilded Age
354 Words | 2 PagesWhen Cornelius Vanderbilt died he left his $100 million fortune to his son William Vanderbilt and they both had the same attitude. During the Gilded Age these big business and their owners were thought of as being Robber Barons or Captains of Industry. The poor working conditions that were provided, the corruption they led in government, and their use of child labor shows that they were Robber Barons. Children were used in labor to work a lot and most days of the week. Kids as young as 5 often worked as much as 12 to 14 hours a day for barely any pay.
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Robber Barons Dbq
711 Words | 3 PagesThe late 19th century was full of growth, production, and business. People were craving power and seemed to achieve this through any means necessary. Consequently, a new business elite formed consisting of the richest men alive. The way in which these individuals acquired all their profits is something very contradictory even over one-hundred years later. Some historians characterize these businessmen as “robber barons” who used extreme methods to control and concentrate wealth and power, and being supported by multiple sources, this statement is justified but only to some extent.
How Successful Was The Progressive Era Essay
739 Words | 3 PagesIn the period between 1900 and 1920, the federal government and reformers were very successful in bringing social, economic, and political reform to the federal government. While not every aspect of it was successful, the rights of women, fighting against child labor and limiting the control of trusts and monopolies were three distinct successes of that time. Even before the progressive era, women challenged their place and articulated new visions of social, political and economic equality. The progressive era was a turning point for women as organizations evolved fighting for equal rights. Woman began to become very involved in a variety of reform movements.
Explain How Big Businesses Controlled The Economy And Politics Throughout 1870-1900
170 Words | 1 PagesJustin Clement APUS DBQ Big businesses controlled the economy and politics throughout 1870-1900. They were in control of the prices for certain items because they destroyed their smaller competitors until there was no competition left. They had much sway over politics and took away the people’s say. As we can see from Document A, between 1870-1899, the price for food, fuel, lighting and living decreased with the emergence of big businesses.
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Document Analysis: The Railway Army Of 1894
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Individualism Vs Transcendentalism
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