To what extent were the following 19th Century industrial leaders either "Robber Barons" or "Industrial Statesmen"? Andrew Carnegie, John Rockefeller, Cornelius Vanderbilt

Many have debated that the industrial leaders following the 19th Century were "Robber Barron's". However, in this very competitive time period, many new businesses were being formed. It took talented businessmen such as Vanderbilt, Carnegie, and Rockefeller to get ahead and keep the companies running, building America into what it is today, the most powerful nation in the world. Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794-1877) was a classic Market Entrepreneur, succeeding by creating and marketing a superior product …

…first major philanthropists in the U.S., establishing several important foundations and donating a total of $540 million to charitable purposes. "Robber Barron's" to those who didn't reap the benefits of these industrial empires but these "Industrial Statesmen" knew what it took to succeed in business. Each had their own characteristics that enabled them to make tough decisions and beat the competition. That Competition has inspired the businessmen of today, and fueling today's industry and technology.