HI!!
1. Technology transformed the United States during the Gilded Age in many ways. First, it allowed for businesses to find new ways to do old tasks and do them more efficiently. It also developed communication and transportation, making it easier for businesses to reach their consumers. By creating new jobs and getting more workers into the American work force, technology helped add to the already expanding American economy. Business leaders known as “robber barons” and “captains of industry” were harnessing this newly emerging technology and using it in their businesses. The Gilded Age was a time where there was great changes and developments in technology. Therefore, powerful industrialists of the late 1800s were known both as captains of industries and robber barons, the American labor force changed, emerging inventions and technology helped big businesses, and developments in communication and transportation affected big businesses.
2. Many powerful industrialists of the late 1800s would be considered both captains of industries and robber barons. The Gilded Age was a time where there was “moving, building, expanding, reforming, and dreaming” (Boorstin 436). Various businessmen were emerging in the United States. Among the few that rose to the top, even fewer used the power and money they had to help the United States and its citizens. The businessmen who used their power and money to benefit the United States in a positive way were known as captains of industry. Those businessmen who used their power and money for their own selfish desires were known as robber barons. (Pollick 1). An example of an industrialist during the Gilded Age would be Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie originated from a poor family in Scotland. At the age of 13, Carnegie arrived in the United States with his family. Working as a child laborer in a cotton factory, Carnegie self-educated himself by reading books. Carnegie soon used his knowledge and talent to form Carnegie Steel Company. Now a steel industrialist, Carnegie was one of the richest men in the United States. Because of the ways books helped Andrew Carnegie, he used his profit to help give books and bring education to others. Carnegie donated “much of his fortune to founding libraries all over the United States” (Boorstin 418). Carnegie’s Steel Company was a success and it was collecting profits. Soon, another industrialist named J. Pierpont Morgan wanted to buy Carnegie’s Steel Company. Everything was going fine with the company so Carnegie made an outrageous offer of half a billion dollars for the company. Carnegie thought it was too good to be true, so he accepted and received all of the money. (Boorstin 418) Because of the way Carnegie gave away his profit to help the well being and education of others, Carnegie would be considered a captain of industry. On the other hand, Carnegie would also be considered a robber baron because of the way he used the position of his company in the economy to sell his company so he could receive a large amount of money. Many of the industrialists in the Gilded Age were also like Carnegie. They helped others in some ways but also benefitted themselves in others. Therefore, many powerful industrialists of the Gilded Age would be considered both captains of industries and robber barons.
3. Technology transformed the United States during the Gilded Age in many ways. First, it allowed for businesses to find new ways to do old tasks and do them more efficiently. It also developed communication and transportation, making it easier for businesses to reach their consumers. By creating new jobs and getting more workers into the American work force, technology helped add to the already expanding American economy. Business leaders known as “robber barons” and “captains of industry” were harnessing this newly emerging technology and using it in their businesses. The Gilded Age was a time where there was great changes and developments in technology. Therefore, powerful industrialists of the late 1800s were known both as captains of industries and robber barons, the American labor force changed, emerging inventions and technology helped big businesses, and developments in communication and transportation affected big businesses.
