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Name:Period:Social Studies 8 Date:The Men Who Built America171455969000John D. Rockefeller, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Andrew Carnegie, Henry Ford, Thomas Edison and J.P. Morgan rose from obscurity and in the process built modern day America. Their names hang on street signs, are etched into buildings and are a part of the fabric of this country’s history. These men created the American Dream and were the engine of capitalism as they transformed everything they touched in building the oil, railroad, steel, shipping, automobile and finance industries. Their paths crossed repeatedly as they elected presidents, set economic policies and influenced major events of the 50 most formative years this country has ever known. From the Civil War to World War I, they led the way.Using state of the art computer generated imagery that incorporates 12 million historical negatives, many made available for the first time by the Library of Congress, the series The Men Who Built America, brings back to life the world these men knew and the one they created. The series shows how these men took a failed experiment in democracy and created the greatest superpower the world has ever seen. We see how their historic achievements came to create the America of today.The episode entitled “Oil Strike” focuses on the rise of oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller. Kerosene was lighting America after dark in unprecedented ways at this time and the demand for oil was sky high. Cornelius Vanderbilt knew that oil could fill his trains and turns to the young maverick oilman from Ohio, Rockefeller, to do just that. 0707John Davison Rockefeller Sr. (July 8, 1839 – May 23, 1937) was an American business magnate and philanthropist. He is widely considered the wealthiest American of all time, and the richest person in modern history. Rockefeller was born into a large family in upstate New York and was shaped by his con man father and religious mother. His family moved several times before eventually settling in Cleveland, Ohio. Rockefeller became an assistant bookkeeper at age 16 and went into several business partnerships beginning at age 20, concentrating his business on oil refining. Rockefeller founded the Standard Oil Company in 1870 and ran it until 1897. Rockefeller's wealth soared as kerosene and gasoline grew in importance, and he became the richest person in the country, controlling 90% of all oil in the United States at his peak. Oil was used throughout the country as a light source until the introduction of electricity, and as a fuel after the invention of the automobile. Rockefeller gained enormous influence over the railroad industry which transported his oil around the country. Standard Oil was the first great business trust in the United States. Rockefeller revolutionized the petroleum industry. His company and business practices, however, came under criticism, particularly in the writings of author Ida Tarbell. The Supreme Court ruled in 1911 that Standard Oil must be dismantled for violation of federal antitrust laws. It was broken up into 34 separate entities, which included companies that became ExxonMobil, Chevron Corporation, and others—some of which still have the highest level of revenue in the world. Individual pieces of the company were worth more than the whole, as shares of these doubled and tripled in value in their early years; consequently, Rockefeller became the country's first billionaire.The episode entitled “A Rivalry is Born” focuses on the emergence of Andrew Carnegie. After emigrating to the US with his parents, Carnegie begins working with railroad executive Tom Scott, who teaches him about the business. By the age of 30, while already running his own business, Scott hires him to build a bridge over the Mississippi River to link the East and the West in a way never before thought possible by train. Carnegie agreed, but doesn’t know how he’ll build a bridge strong enough; his doubts are squashed when he finds his answer in steel. Before Carnegie realizes the full potential of steel, his mentor Scott dies at the hands of John D. Rockefeller’s oil pipeline. Carnegie vows to have his revenge against Rockefeller. 01825Andrew Carnegie (November 25, 1835?– August 11, 1919) was a Scottish-American industrialist, business magnate, and philanthropist. Carnegie was born in Dunfermline, Scotland, and immigrated to the United States with his parents in 1848 at age 12. Carnegie led the expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century and became one of the richest Americans in history. He became a leading philanthropist (someone who donates to charitable causes) in the United States. During the last 18 years of his life, he gave away $350 million to charities, foundations, and universities – almost 90 percent of his fortune. His 1889 article proclaiming "The Gospel of Wealth" called on the rich to use their wealth to improve society, and stimulated a wave of philanthropy. Carnegie started work as a telegrapher, and by the 1860s had investments in railroads, railroad sleeping cars, bridges, and oil derricks. He accumulated further wealth as a bond salesman, raising money for American enterprise in Europe. He built Pittsburgh's Carnegie Steel Company, which he sold to J. P. Morgan in 1901 for $303 million. It became the U.S. Steel Corporation. After selling Carnegie Steel, he surpassed John D. Rockefeller as the richest American for the next several years. Carnegie devoted the remainder of his life to large-scale philanthropy, with special emphasis on local libraries, world peace, education, and scientific research. The episode entitled “A New Rival Emerges” focuses on the emergence of JP Morgan. Morgan established a bank in New York City that had one goal – to further the technological advancements of America. Morgan’s first investment was in Thomas Edison’s new development – electric light. left54610John Pierpont Morgan Sr. (April 17, 1837 – March 31, 1913) was an American financier and banker who dominated corporate finance on Wall Street throughout the Gilded Age. As the head of the banking firm that ultimately became known as J.P. Morgan and Company, he was a driving force behind the wave of industrial consolidation in the United States spanning the late 19th and early 20th century. Over the course of his career on Wall Street, J.P. Morgan spearheaded the formation of several prominent multinational corporations including U.S. Steel Corporation, International Harvester and General Electric. He and his partners also held controlling interests in numerous other American businesses including AT&T, Western Union and over twenty railroads. Due to his financial influence, Morgan came to exercise enormous influence over the nation's lawmakers and finances. During the Panic of 1907, he organized a coalition of financiers that saved the American economy from collapse. As the Progressive Era's leading financier, J.P. Morgan's dedication to efficiency and modernization helped transform the shape of the American economy. Many historians have characterized Morgan as America's "greatest banker.”Directions: Use the information found in this reading to answer the questions that follow. You must HIGHLIGHT and ANNOTATE where you found your answers.Name six men who helped build modern day America.What is the series “The Men Who Built America” about?What does the episode “Oil Strike” focus on?Who was John D. Rockefeller?Where was Rockefeller born?Where did Rockefeller’s family finally settle?What company did Rockefeller found?What was oil used for at this time?What did Ida Tarbell do?What did the Supreme Court rule in 1911?What does the episode “A Rivalry is Born” focus on?What did Tom Scott ask Andrew Carnegie to do?Who is blamed for Scott’s death?Who was Andrew Carnegie?What is a philanthropist?How much did Carnegie give to charity? How much of his fortune was this amount?In what city was Carnegie Steel Company based?Who did Carnegie sell his steel company to? What did it become known as?What types of charities did Carnegie focus on toward the end of his life?What does the episode “A New Rival Emerges” focus on?Who was J.P. Morgan?Name two corporations that Morgan formed.CONCLUDING ACTIVITY: In the space below, write a paragraph (minimum 5 sentences) answering the following question - Based on the reading and your answers to the questions found in this section, which of the three men (Rockefeller, Carnegie, or Morgan) do you believe helped US Industry the most? Use at least three pieces of evidence from this reading and/or outside knowledge to explain WHY you believe that they are the most important. ................
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