Robber Baron vs Captain of Industry
James Dupont owns a textile manufacturing company that produces clothing on a large scale. While introducing cutting-edge machinery that made production faster, he forced workers to labor in dangerous conditions for long hours and paid them below minimum wage. When asked about worker conditions, he claimed they were just part of the business.
What is Robber Baron
We left our home country to come to America.
Who are immigrants
Where were immigrants mostly coming from and going to?
Parts of Europe/ Urban City area
What does Gilded mean?
Paint gold over something a lot less pretty
Who is Jacob Riis and what did he do?
Photojournalist/ Muckraker, He wrote “How the Other Half Lives”
Sarah Kim founded a bank that provided financial services for small businesses and farmers. Her bank gave affordable loans, encouraging entrepreneurship in local communities. Profits were reinvested into economic growth projects, and she contributed to affordable housing initiatives, helping improve the quality of life for low-income families.
What is Captain of Industry
The Era that was before the Gilded Age
What is the Reconstruction Era?
Most immigrants in the Gilded Age lived in ______________ and worked in _____________________.
tenements, factories
What does suffrage mean?
The right to vote
Which RB/CoI was in the Steel Industry
Andrew Carnegie
Emma Lawson founded a steel company that supplied materials for bridges, buildings, and railways, fueling American infrastructure development. She was known for her innovative production methods and donated millions to fund schools, libraries, and hospitals. Her company treated workers fairly, providing them with safety equipment and competitive wages.
What is Captain of Industry
Name something that was invented during the Gilded Age.
Railroads, subways and street cars, elevators, lightbulbs, etc
What problems did Urbanization present for the workforce?
Dangerous working conditions/ Long working hours/ Maltreatment of workers
_____________were writers who investigated and exposed corruption during the Gilded Age
Muckrakers
Which RB/CoI was in the Oil Industry
John D. Rockefeller
Thomas Burke established a massive oil company that quickly became a monopoly by acquiring smaller companies and lobbying for laws that protected his business interests. He intentionally limited oil supply to keep prices high and fired workers who attempted to unionize. Thomas used his wealth to buy luxury properties but gave little to charity or social programs.
What is Robber Baron
I coined the term “Gilded Age”
Who is Mark Twain
This newly discovered resource made it possible to build tall buildings and skyscrapers
What is Steel
Vanderbilt attempting to gain control of the entire Railroad Industry is an example of?
Monopoly
What industry did Cornelius Vanderbilt dominate?
Bonus question what was his nickname?
Railroads/ The Commodore
Fun Fact: Elon Musk donated over $118 Million to Donald Trump's presidential campaign, and since the election his net worth has grown over $70 Biliion!
Answers May Vary
Name someone who could be described as a Robber Baron or Captain of Industry
Vanderbilt/Morgan/Rockefeller/Carnegie/Ford
What were the main goals of the Progressive Era?
Better working conditions, reduction of monopolies and corruption, women’s suffrage, immigrant rights, government intervention for better living conditions for the poor, etc.
An economic system based on supply and demand with little or no government control?
Free Market
Who said “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” in reference to the Gilded Age?
Charles Dickens