The Creation of Railroads

Geraldyne De los Reyes

Pd. 4b 10-8-14

Robber Barons vs. Captains of Industry

The creation of railroads, telephones, and more, made a huge impact on industrialization. Another impact in industrialization was work force, transportation, etc. Many immigrants were coming to the U.S. looking for a better life for them and their families. Adding to this, the people coming in got jobs and created a greater demand for the consumer goods. Transportation, helped people move from one place to another, and as population got bigger people needed something to get around. America had a vast of natural resources, and it accelerated factories in the east. The industrialists of the 19th century were consider Robber Barons because they treated employees unfairly and had unfair business practice.

Industrialists treated employees unfairly by working long hours and in dangerous environments. As it says on the political cartoon, "He reduces wages, that he may play philanthropist with" (Document G). In other words, workers are getting money taken away from them, when they really work hard for it. The working conditions were unacceptable for the money they were getting. Also, owners of companies would not train the employees, the owners expected skilled workers. To explain this, "People were not getting enough money for the hours they work" (Document C). Carnegie was making a hundred times more money than the employees would make in 5 years.

Industrialists had unfair business practices because workers were exposed to life threating conditions such as, mine explosions, and diseases with not many doctors. As it's shown in the picture, the stomachs of the men are big and heavy sacks of money that they are enjoying, while the employees have to carry them and suffer. In brief, the employees are working hard for their money but earn too little because these rich men are stealing it from them. In addition to this, "A remarkable scheme, the gist of which was to bring together secretly a large enough body of refiners and shippers...and drawbacks on that of other people". All things considered, Rockefeller and other people are planning and strategizing ways to make money in an easy way. Finally, workers were exposed to life threating conditions such as, mine explosions, and diseases with not many doctors.

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