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US History 25 Week Common Assessment name: “Robber Barons or Captains of Industry?”

Task OverviewThis task will measure your ability to identify main ideas, to compare and contrast sources, and to draw conclusions supported by evidence.

Directions:Read the “Historical Context” below to gain the background on the Industrial Revolution and the importance of Robber Barons/Captains of Industry. The “Historical Context” is not a part of your assessment, as it is only to provide you with a basic understanding of the historical content of the sources.

Read each of the following sources below. After reading the documents, answer the corresponding questions related to each document. Ensure that you use the documents to support your answers, citing each relevant source in your responses.

Historical ContextDuring the late 19th century, the rapid industrialization of America led to the creation of massive sums of wealth and major advancements in transportation and resource extraction. Men like John Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, and William Vanderbilt were heralded for their contributions to business and society, and recognized as “Captains of Industry”. However, these industrial statesmen were often criticized as robber barons, as well. The term robber barons is a negative label that characterizes these men as liars and cheats, who did everything they could to acquire power and amass as much money as possible, at the expense of their workers and America in general. Industrial leaders defended themselves, often with the aid of politicians, while others condemned them. One of the major controversies of the Gilded Age remains: Were the captains of industry really robber barons?

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Task Activity

Document A:

Document B:

“I am but one of many victims of Rockefeller’s colossal combination,” said Mr. [George]Rice, “and my story is not essentially different from the rest. . . . I established what was known as the Ohio Oil Works. . . . I found to my surprise at first, though I afterward understood it perfectly, that the Standard Oil Company was offering the same quality of oil at much lower prices than I could do—from one to three cents a gallon less than I could possibly sell it for.

I sought for the reason and found that the railroads were in league with the Standard Oil concern at every point, giving it discriminating rates and privileges of all kinds as against myself and all outside competitors.”

--George Rice, “How I Was Ruined by Rockefeller,” New York World, October 16, 1898

This, then, is held to be the duty of the man of wealth: first, to set an example of modest, unostentatious living, shunning display or extravagance; to provide moderately for the legitimate wants of those dependent upon him; and after doing so to consider all surplus revenues which come to him simply as trust funds which he is called upon to administer, and strictly bound as a matter of duty to administer in the manner which, in his judgment, is best calculated to produce the most beneficial results for the community—the man of wealth thus becoming the mere agent and trustee for his poorer brethren, bringing to their service his superior wisdom, experience, and ability to administer, doing for them better than they would or could do for themselves. . . .

In bestowing charity, the main consideration should be to help those who will help themselves; to provide part of the means by which those who desire to improve may do so; to give those who desire to rise the aids by which they may rise; to assist, but rarely or never to do all. Neither the individual nor the race is improved by almsgiving. Those worthy of assistance, except in rare cases, seldom require assistance. The really valuable men of the race never do, except in cases of accident or sudden change. Everyone has, of course, cases of individuals brought to his own knowledge where temporary assistance can do genuine good, and these he will not overlook.

-- Andrew Carnegie, “Wealth,” North American Review, 148 (June 1889)

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Document C:

I say that you ought to get rich, and it is your duty to get rich. How many of my pious brethren say to me, “Do you, a Christian minister, spend your time going up and down the country advising young people to get rich, to get money?” “Yes, of course I do.” They say, “Isn’t that awful! Why don’t you preach the gospel instead of preaching about man’s making money?” “Because to make money honestly is to preach the gospel.” The men who get rich may be the most honest men you find in the community. . .

Let me say here clearly, and say it briefly . . . that ninety-eight out of one hundred of the rich men in America are honest. That is why they are rich. That is why they are trusted with money. That is why they carry on great enterprises and find plenty of people to work with them. It is because they are honest men. . . .

-- Russell H. Conwell, Acres of Diamonds, 1900

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Document D:

Sign: “All freight seeking the sea board must pass here and pay any tolls we demand.” Political cartoon of William Vanderbilt.

-- Joseph Keppler, "The Modern Colossus of (Rail)roads," Puck, 6 (December 1879)

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Part I: Comprehension. (8 points)1. Does Document A support the idea of industrialists as robber barons? List one quotation from the document as support.__________________________________________________________________________________________

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2. Does Document B support the idea of industrialists as robber barons? List one quotation from the document as support.__________________________________________________________________________________________

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3. Does Document C support the idea of industrialists as robber barons? List one quotation from the document as support.__________________________________________________________________________________________

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4. Does Document D support the idea of industrialists as robber barons? List one observation from the document as support.__________________________________________________________________________________________

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Part II: Compare and Contrast. (6 points)5. Does Document A support or contradict Document C's interpretation of the "robber barons?" Explain with two pieces of evidence from the documents.__________________________________________________________________________________________

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6. Does Document B support or contradict Document C's interpretation of the "robber barons?" Explain with two pieces of evidence from the documents.__________________________________________________________________________________________

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Part III: Synthesis. (5 points)7. Should the late 19th-century industrial statesmen be considered captains of industry or robber barons? Support your answer with at least one piece of evidence from each document.__________________________________________________________________________________________

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