Robber Barons Research Paper

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How important is the role of government regulation in our everyday lives? Very important, contrary to what one might think. Government regulation can be seen throughout multiple events in history, but its role is further emphasized in the rise of robber barons. Do the names J.P. Morgan and John D. Rockefeller sound familiar? Becoming well known during the Gilded Age of the 19th century, robber barons, without guidelines about what not to do, took chances by becoming involved in criminal business practices. For instance, intimidation, violence, corruption, conspiracies, and fraud are just a few examples of the corrupt and unethical tactics that led these industry tycoons to fame. Described as monopolizing—buying out competitors, forcing them …show more content…

Besides leading to reform to better accommodate workers rights, such as better working conditions and better pay, robber barons also led to federal standards being made so more people were safe. Most of these reforms, for example, things like the New Deal and the 16th Amendment, were passed due to the overgrowing influence of robber barons but also to the increasing amounts of exposes published by muckrakers. The rise of robber barons ultimately led to more reform, creating “a more perfect union.” Undoubtedly, the rise of robber barons benefited the United States in many ways. For example, while the tactics these businessmen used to generate profits were not ideal, they had a significant impact on the economy. Moreover, citizens had a higher standard of living, allowing them to live more comfortably, and it created numerous jobs for the influx of immigrants looking to start a better life in America. Taking in place of the Second Industrial Revolution of America, robber barons invested and became more prominent through the investments of railroads, steel, and …show more content…

Although one could argue that the influence of robber barons prevented the United States from becoming “a more perfect union,” that cannot be further from the truth. As a consequence of the accumulation of profits streaming in for the robber barons, it widened the income inequality between the rich and the poor, while the lower and working classes were struggling to make ends meet. This was a problem early on, but it was later resolved with the creation of the sixteenth Amendment, which states that Congress “shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment.” Before the sixteenth Amendment was ratified, Congress had no way to enact a nationwide federal tax, which meant that they were not able to fund its programs and various operations. Another argument could be that robber barons exploited their workers. Workers were poorly paid, overworked, and kept in harmful working conditions. However, because of the growing frustration of workers, this led to many being exposed by muckrakers and organized labor

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