Cornelius Vanderbilt
Robber Barron or Captain of Industry?
Line of Business
Cornelius Vanderbilt achieved his goal in the railroad and shipping industry. His business included building his own steam boat, and building Grand Central Railroad.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
- He grew up around shipping because his father shipped his produce.
- Learned many things when we worked as a ferry captain for a wealthy businessman.
Disadvantages:
- He was from a farming family that wasn't very rich.
- Many people didn't like his ruthless ways.
Grace Wilson Vanderbilt
The final "Mrs. Vanderbilt".
Cornelius Vanderbilt
The famous businessman.
Anderson Cooper Vanderbilt
Cornelius Vanderbilt's great great great grandson.
Competition
He treated his competition ruthlessly. For example, the businessman named Gibbons he worked for died and Gibbons' son refused to sell the business to Commodore (Vanderbilt's nickname) so he bought several boats and established the dispatch line. According to Bio.com he aggressively forced Gibbon's to sell his business.
Worker Treatement
All in all, he was known to very arrogant and greedy which led to treating his workers very poorly. He gave the workers long hours with low wages that weren't fair. There weren't good working conditions either.
Money Spending
According to History.com Vanderbilt donated his largest and fastest steamboat to the Union Navy during the Civil War. He built it for an estimated $1,000,000. Although he gave that generous donation, he only donated 50,000 to a New York church and $1 million to Central University.
Final Decision
Overall, I think Cornelius Vanderbilt is a Robber Barron. He was a very smart and successful man, but he treated people in a very negative way. He was very arrogant and money crazy. I believe he was a successful businessman, but that isn't all there is to life, and he wasn't the best man he could be.
SOURCES
http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/71/43071-004-92B475BB.jpg
https://prezi.com/hme4rqk9r5e6/cornelius-vanderbilt/
http://www.rugusavay.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Cornelius-Vanderbilt-Quotes-2.jpg
http://www.history.com/topics/cornelius-vanderbilt
http://www.biography.com/people/cornelius-anderbilt-9515195
http://www.britannica.com/biography/Cornelius-Vanderbilt-American-industrialist-and-philanthropist
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h845.html
https://spthumbnails.5min.com/10358777/517938812_c_570_411.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bP-pGOIw_wk/UC0m12sxs2I/AAAAAAAAD3w/rCdXU_fo51o/s1600/1.jpg
http://www.psy.vanderbilt.edu/history/Images/CorneliusColor.png
Website: http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/141202125005-reliable-sources-logo2-large-169.png