Wednesday in class we learned about some of the great businessmen in America - Cornelius Vanderbilt, Andrew Carnegie, and J. Pierpont Morgan. Although they accomplished many great things, like the expansion of the railroad business or the building of public libraries, they were also shrouded in infamy - Carnegie’s philanthropist reputation was destroyed by the Homestead strike, and Morgan had such a stranglehold on the economy that the public began to fear him. However, it is indisputable that many of them used their power and wealth to help America evade a potential economic collapse. J. P. Morgan managed to use his influence to persuade other bankers to contribute money for a trust fund, ending the panic of 1907. What do you think America would be like if there weren’t any business giants like them? Would other people take their place, or could the advancement of technology and industry have been the same without their presence?
I think if America didn't have big business giants, we would all be screwed today because the rules we have today against something like that happening again came from people like Rockefeller. It would be Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and the big boys that would have control over us today, and the disparity of wealth would be even bigger then what it was back then.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Serena that you need men like Rockefeller who supported America and further influenced Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, etc. They established employment, businesses, strong influences, and a powerful America through their work which is demonstrated through business leaders of today.
ReplyDeleteI agree that they are beneficial to the nation. They are aiding the nation to develop into a strong country.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, all three of these men were sufficiently detrimental to the development of our american society as a whole economically and business wise. They were the ones who were able to, from the very start, establish such strong influence and powerfully impact the business industry. If it were not for them, perhaps we wouldn't have modern day philanthropists like Zuckerberg, Jobs, Gates, etc. today and America wouldn't be built off such a forceful and strong basis as it is today.
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