America's Journey (1880-1920)
By: Maddy Kemper
Industrialization: John D. Rockerfeller and Oil (Proud and Shame)
John D. Rockefeller was one of the most wealthiest men and a philanthropist. He was the founder of standard oil. By the 1880's, Rockefeller owned nearly 90% of most refineries and was accused by muckrakers of unethical practices such as predatory pricing and colluding with railroads to destroy his competitors just to gain a monopoly in the oil industry. Finally in 1911, the U.S. Supreme Court realized the extent of the Standard Oil violations of the anti-trust laws and dissolved the industry. I am proud that the Supreme Court finally came to their senses and dissolved that company, yet ashamed because it took them so long to realize what Rockefeller was doing was morally wrong. I used this image of Standard Oil to show the Muckrakers and the public's point of view of John Rockefeller.