John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie

Despite the fact that many had viewed John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie as “Tycoons of Industry” or “Robber Barons”, these two industrial giants begged to differ. “Robber Baron” was a name given to industrial giants in the late 19th century who were believed to have become wealthy through unethical means, such as questionable stock-market operations. Rockefeller once stated “…and only through such successive steps and by a great aggregation of capital is America today enabled to utilize the bounty which its land pours forth, and to furnish the world with light.

” He believed it was necessary during the time of the great depression for him to increase his capital. In doing so he consulted with other companies within the business to bring out some order. This was Rockefeller’s view of the situation, but many others of his time, or people of the working class did not perceive the situation as he did. They believed Rockefeller and aggregation of capital worked together to cheat them out of their money in a time of crisis.

Carnegie believed the working class should entrust their money to such capitalists to his belief that the capitalists’ wisdom is far greater than that of the working class. Because of such belief, the capitalists would provide a better community for all with their wise judgment.

Andrew Carnegie provided a sense of closure for the American people. This is rather interesting because it contradicted the beliefs about capitalists of his time. He stated that capitalists were modest and did not live ostentatiously although most capitalists of his time did flaunt their wealth. It seems that the statement given by Andrew Carnegie provided a sense of security and a newfound trust within capitalists. He tried to prove that he was not at all a “Robber Baron” of his time. He portrayed capitalists such as himself as men of wisdom and not shrewd men that hand swindled their wealth.