Robber Barons

Because they exploited ruthless tactics to destroy competition, create monopolies, and corrupt the free enterprise system, the industrial leaders of the late 19th century were called robber barons. Men such as Rockefeller, Carnegie, and Vanderbilt were the kings of American industry and American society during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Enforcing harsh rules, ordering long work hours, and placing their workers in dangerous environments, these men were the pirates of industry. During the post-Civil …

…his business as long as possible. Through his forcible ways of obtaining monopolies, Vanderbilt smothered others' hard earned businesses with an air of absolute supremacy. Because they utilized cold-blooded tactics to destroy competition, create monopolies, and corrupt the free enterprise system, the industrial leaders of the late 19th century were called robber barons. These pirates of industry ruled over their businesses with absolute power, cleansing their gutters of the weak no matter what it took.