The Robber Barons

When the names Carnagie, Rockefeller, and Pullman come to mind,


  most of us automatically think of what we saw or read in our history


  books: "These men were kind and generous and through hard work and


  perseverance, any one of you could become a success story like them,"


  right?   Wrong.   I am sick of these people being remembered for the two or


  three "good deeds" they have done.   Publicity and media have exaggerated


  the generosity of these men, the government has spoiled these names with


  false lies, and people have been blind to see that these men were


  ruthless, sly businessmen who were motivated by your money and their


  struggle for power.


  George M. Pullman is best remembered for his contributions to the railroad


  industry through the invention of his Pullman Cars.   The cars sold well


  and the railroad industry flourished with this new invention.   Although


  the success attached to his name, not many people know the real truth


  behind this robber baron.   His greed for money took him to extreme


  measures as his workers were seriously mistreated and put under strict


  restrictions.   For instance, every worker had to live in his village


  (Pullman, IL) and under no circumstances was anyone allowed to leave.   The


  people had to buy from his store, pay him rent, and attend work every day.


  People who did not abide were heavily penalized by their name being


  written on black book (which meant that this worker couldn’t get a job in


  any other industrial field).   How many history books teach such in-depth


  details like these?


  Another prime example of the acts of a robber baron can be seen through


  the actions of John D. Rockefeller.   A picture in my history book shows a


  group of people watching an old Rockefeller crouch over to accept a flower


  from a...