Question

Some felt industrialists like Carnegie were robber barons because

A. They took advantage of government regulations,
B. They robbed stage coaches on the Santa Fe Trail
C. They were owners of large swaths of expensive land,
D. They squeezed out smaller businesses,

Answer 1

Industrialists like Carnegie were considered 'robber barons' by some due to their aggressive business tactics that eliminated competition and exploited workers, despite also contributing significantly to industry and philanthropy.

Step-by-step explanation:

Some felt industrialists like Andrew Carnegie were robber barons because they squeezed out smaller businesses, exploiting workers and manipulating laws to their advantage. This perception was due to their ruthless business strategies and the immense fortunes they amassed during the industrial revolution.

Carnegie, for instance, practiced vertical integration, owning all the production stages and thereby cutting costs and dominating the steel market. His tactics sometimes paralleled those of other businessmen labeled as robber barons, who generally put profit above the well-being of their workers and the wider public.

In contrast, however, Carnegie and others also made significant contributions to the industry and later philanthropy, complicating the binary judgment of their legacies.