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Captains of Industry or Robber Barons?
Historical Context:
In the late 1800's and early 1900’s, the United States experienced a period of rapid growth in
manufacturing and technology called Industrialization. During this time, businessmen like
Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller created large businesses that dominated certain
industries. Some have called these men “Captains of Industry” for their leadership in growing
the economy of the United States. However, some have called them “Robber Barons” because
of the way they made their fortunes.
Task:
Using the information from the documents and your knowledge of United States history,
answer the questions that follow each document in Part A. Your answers to the questions will
help you write the Part B essay, in which you will be asked to answer the following question:
Were industrial leaders like Carnegie and Rockefeller “Captains of Industry” or
“Robber Barons”? In your answer be sure to explain:

economic and/or social effects of Industrialization on the United States

how businessmen like Carnegie and Rockefeller were “Captains of Industry”

how businessmen like Carnegie and Rockefeller were “Robber Barons”
Guidelines

Write a well-organized, multi-paragraph essay with an introduction and conclusion

Use three pieces of evidence in EACH paragraph:
o Two must be specific pieces of evidence from the documents
o One must be a relevant piece of outside information

Explain how the evidence you provided supports the ideas in each paragraph
Document 1
1. Considering the data in this table, how did life or work change for Americans during this period?
Be sure to support your answer with a specific example from the chart and an explanation.___________
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Document 2
Map 1: Map of railroads in the United States in 1860: Approximately 30,000 Miles of Railroad Tracks
Map 2: Map of railroads in the United States in 1890: Over 163,000 Miles of Railroad Tracks
2. Using the information on these maps, how did railroads change the way people lived or worked during
this period. Be sure to support your answer with a reference to the maps or titles and an explanation. _
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Document 3
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
The report shows that the Standard Oil Company has benefited enormously up almost to the
present moment by secret rates, many of these secret rates being clearly unlawful. This benefit
amounts to at least three-quarters of a million a year. This three-quarters of a million represents
the profit that the Standard Oil Company obtains at the expense of the railroads; but of course the
ultimate result is that it obtains a much larger profit at the expense of the public….
Though not bearing upon the question of railroad rates, there are two measures, consideration of
which is imperatively suggested by the submission of this report. The Standard Oil Company
has, largely by unfair or unlawful methods, crushed out home competition. It is highly desirable
that an element of competition should be introduced by the passage of some such law as that
which has already passed the House.
Public domain. Theodore Roosevelt: "Special Message," May 4, 1906. Online by Gerhard Peters and
John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=69667.
3. According to the excerpt, what business practice did Standard Oil Company use to gain an advantage?
Be sure to support your answer with a specific example from the text and an explanation. ____________
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Document 4a
Hamlin Garland visited Homestead, Pennsylvania and the Carnegie Steel Mills to
write this article for McClure’s Magazine:
The streets of the town were horrible; the buildings were poor; the sidewalks were
sunken, swaying, and full of holes, and the crossings were sharp-edged stones set
like rocks in a river bed. Everywhere the yellow mud of the street lay kneaded
into a sticky mass, through which groups of pale, lean men slouched in faded
garments, grimy with the soot and grease of the mills.
Source: Hamlin Garland, “Homestead and Its Perilous Trades–Impressions of a Visit,” McClure’s Magazine, June 1894
Document 4b
Wages at Andrew Carnegie’s Homestead Steel Mill:
Job
Feb. 1892
Feb. 1894
Roller
$12.15
$6.00
Heater
$9.55
$5.25
Tableman
$6.94
$3.20
Heater's helper
$4.85
$2.22
Shearman
$9.85
$4.09
Source: John A. Fitch, The Steel Workers, 1907
4a. How did Garland describe the town around Carnegie’s Homestead Stel Mill? Be sure to support your
answer with a specific example from the text. _______________________________________________
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4b. What happened to wages at Carnegie’s Homestead Steel Mill between 1892 and 1894? Be sure to
support your answer with a specific example from the chart. ___________________________________
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Document 5
Source: Chart created from J. Frazier Wall, Andrew Carnegie, New York, Oxford University Press, 1970.
5. According to the chart, what are two causes that Andrew Carnegie supported with donations of his
money? Be sure to use specific examples from the chart and explain. ____________________________
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Document 6
6. According to this cartoon, what cause was Carnegie supporting? Be sure to support your answer with a
specific example of text from the cartoon and an explanation. __________________________________
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