Rockefeller Robber Barons

John Davidson Rockefeller was an influential character in history. His wealth, character, and aggressiveness directed him to create one of the first and most known monopolies in modern history. Throughout the Industrial and Gilded eras Rockefeller dominated his pitiful competition destroying the oil industries. Rockefeller might have been a businessman not an inventor, but in creating the monopoly he chooses to be something a different an in-between. John Davidson Rockefeller born July 8, 1839 in the small, quant town of Richford, New York.

John D. Rockefeller was the founder of the Standard Oil Company and became one of the wealthiest men of his time. His company was the major leader of the oil business in the United States during his reign. Standard Oil company served as a prime example of how companies should function, which helped to guide others to follow in his footsteps. He was a major philanthropist and used his large fortune to fund many philanthropic causes. His donations helped pay for the creations of the University of Chicago, the Rockefeller University, the establishment of Central Philippine University, and many others.

John Davison Rockefeller was born July 8, 1839 in Richford, New York. He was a given Northern Baptist and upheld numerous church-based foundations. He taught Sunday school, and served as a trustee, assistant, and infrequent janitor. Rockefeller was also considered a supporter of capitalism based in a perspective of social Darwinism. Perhaps he was the most famous of the entrepreneurs to take advantage of wide-open state of American capitalism.

The Impact of John Davidson Rockefeller John D. Rockefeller lived a long and prosperous life, becoming the richest man to ever live even today. Rockefeller started out by investing in an oil refinery located in cleveland, Ohio. He eventually founded his own oil company called Standard Oil. His business methods were debatable, however, with critics saying he is unethical in his practices. Standard Oil was eventually found guilty of breaking anti-trust laws.

John Davison Rockefeller: From Rags to Riches “Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great”, John D. Rockefeller. John D. Rockefeller accomplished more than anyone of his era could. Rockefeller began his life at the bottom, but rose to the top of the social and economic later later in his life. He pioneered the idea of the now illegal monopoly, and the American business model. Although Rockefeller is particularly remembered for his ruthless tactics in his oil monopoly, he contributed an immense fortune to various charity foundations.

The streetlights burn slowly and patiently, flaring as more oil is funneled in. The tracks leading across the east coast are steel, linking with its brethren to create a chain travelling across the east coast. The coming train is bound for New York City, prepared to transport prospective men, women, and children to the heart of urban expansion in nineteenth-century America. The country is slowly becoming overtaken by a wave of industry. The two men, poised yet poisonous, standing at the helm of this ship of industry, are John Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie.

In the Progressive Era, there were many problems that the American people faced. America was broken, unjust, and cruel during that era. The people became acocomuomed to the corruption, horrible living conditions,and terrible working and safety conditions. The vast number of problems; however, were solved by what we call-- muckrakers, who then with the help of others came to bring about a new laws.

When John Rockefeller went into retirement, his decides to devote his time and money to his new hobby philanthropy. Now, Rockefeller donates well over five-hundred million dollars towards the advancement of his country, church, and fellow man. For instance, Rockefeller creates a hospital research facility and college. Additionally, Rockefeller takes ten percent of his overall earnings and donates them to the church. Next, he funds scientific advancement that aids in the creations of vaccines and eradication of terrible diseases.

This man is strong, courageous, determined, a successful businessman, vice president of the United State of America, but he had a down side, he was dyslexic. These are all things that Nelson Rockefeller was. Mr. Rockefeller was told he would not go far in life. They told him he was stupid only because he had a disability but he was determined to succeed. He tried his hardest at everything he did and made it thru thick and thin.

The four businessmen are Captains of Industry, they are Captains of Industry because they donated millions of dollars and some donated their personal collections to places. Eastman supported dental clinics for children who could not afford treatment and donated $2.5 million for the dental clinics in Rochester (website). Moreover he cared for children who were poor and didn’t have a lot of money. By supporting dental clinics for children, the children will grow up as the next generation and help others. Even Rockefeller was also a Captain of Industry because he donated $50,000,000 the board to raise academic salaries, he founded the General Education Board in 1903 to establish high schools throughout the South (reading).

This investigation will scrutinize the question: To what extent did antitrust laws affect John D. Rockefeller’s company- Standard Oil? To analyze the effectiveness of the antitrust laws, the investigation will focus on the government policies and execution of said policies during the Gilded Age and the Progressive Era (1870-1920). The first source is a cartoon drawn by Horace Taylor for the September 25, 1899 issue of The Verdict named “What a Funny Little Government”. By 1890, Standard Oil dominated 90 percent of the oil industry, thus the publication date strengthens the value of the cartoon itself, since the close proximity enables for the cartoon to capture the perception of the cartoonist as well as the general public.