Robber Baron or Industrial statesmen To what extent is it justified to characterize the industrial leaders of the 1865- 1900 era as either "robber barons" or "industrial statesmen"?

In the era following the Civil War, Industrialization had many leaders. These leaders achieved the great feat of booming the growth of the economy and industry of the United States and its citizens to become the leading industrial power in the world. As historians have reviewed their great achievements historians have become critics questioning how honest the fortunes of these leaders were. They pondered the tactics of great leaders such as John D. Rockefeller, J. …

…of management and their great intelligence to manipulate many businesses and citizens of America during the Industrial Revolution so that they could earn millions. These leaders were robber barons, but they were pioneers of the era. If not for those entrepreneurs then possibly we would not have such a great country, with excellent inventions, but greatest of all they started a race that has yet to stop, the race of competition, "survival of the fittest".