A New War Began Essay
“A New War Begins” gives you insight to what it was like before, during, and after the Civil War, and who the most powerful people in the nation were at the time. The United States is growing rapidly through varied businesses. Some of these businesses include: Ships, Railroads, and Oil. The episode features the 4 most powerful men of the time. People like Tom Scott, Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, and Cornelius Vanderbilt. The most featured of the 4 men of the film, and of the time, was Cornelius Vanderbilt who had a huge effect on the time. Abraham Lincoln was shot 5 days after the Civil War was ended. This shocked a proud nation that was once again united, but this nation had little time to stop progress. The nation was on the rise. Business was on the rise due to 4 men: Carnegie, Scott, Rockefeller, and Vanderbilt. These 4 men were the leaders in this revolutionary time for the United States. Cornelius Vanderbilt was mentioned most in the film, which was rightful to him being as he
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was probably the most powerful man in the United States during the time. Vanderbilt was a cut-throat business man. He was self-made, because of a poor upbringing on the docks. He would do whatever it takes to get ahead in the world, he was that determined not to live the life he originally lived in the early stages of his life. He wanted something better for himself. He was a very tough man, another result of his upbringing. He was also very competitive. All of these things made Vanderbilt into the man he was, he wanted to succeed, so nothing was going to stop this fierce competitor.
The self-made man, Vanderbilt, at the age of 16, bought a small ferry, where he would start his business.
From there his business would grow into something much bigger. It went one from one ship to a few ships to a whole fleet of ships in just a matter of time. Vanderbilt’s Fleet would transport both goods and people across the water. This affected many people. Through his business Vanderbilt received the name “Commodore”. Over a 40 year span Vanderbilt builds the largest shipping empire in the world. At the climax of his power, he decides to sell his entire shipping empire. A very questionable move if you ask me, but it would eventually work out for Vanderbilt. He sells his Fleet of ships to invest the in the railroad industry. A new type of industry, but effective, this move pays off and affects the Civil War. By the End of the Civil War, Vanderbilt is the richest man in America. His investment had earned him a net worth of $68 million, which today would equal $75
billion.
There was also hard times during the investment in the railroad. Vanderbilt lost his son George, who died in the war, was tormented by another son, and named one of his son's operations director of the Hudson Railroad. So, by the end of all this, people started to believe that he was no longer competition. The only thing Vanderbilt had on them was that he owned the only railroad bridge into New York City, so Vanderbilt tried to use this against people and blockaded the bridge. When this happened this left 1,000 lbs. of cargo outside the city on the railroad, so the other railroads sell shares to him so he controlled other railroads as well. This happened because he wanted to be the undisputed “Railroad King”, which he basically was. He was eventually outsmarted by Jim Fisk and Jay Gould.
was probably the most powerful man in the United States during the time. Vanderbilt was a cut-throat business man. He was self-made, because of a poor upbringing on the docks. He would do whatever it takes to get ahead in the world, he was that determined not to live the life he originally lived in the early stages of his life. He wanted something better for himself. He was a very tough man, another result of his upbringing. He was also very competitive. All of these things made Vanderbilt into the man he was, he wanted to succeed, so nothing was going to stop this fierce competitor.
The self-made man, Vanderbilt, at the age of 16, bought a small ferry, where he would start his business.
From there his business would grow into something much bigger. It went one from one ship to a few ships to a whole fleet of ships in just a matter of time. Vanderbilt’s Fleet would transport both goods and people across the water. This affected many people. Through his business Vanderbilt received the name “Commodore”. Over a 40 year span Vanderbilt builds the largest shipping empire in the world. At the climax of his power, he decides to sell his entire shipping empire. A very questionable move if you ask me, but it would eventually work out for Vanderbilt. He sells his Fleet of ships to invest the in the railroad industry. A new type of industry, but effective, this move pays off and affects the Civil War. By the End of the Civil War, Vanderbilt is the richest man in America. His investment had earned him a net worth of $68 million, which today would equal $75
billion.
There was also hard times during the investment in the railroad. Vanderbilt lost his son George, who died in the war, was tormented by another son, and named one of his son's operations director of the Hudson Railroad. So, by the end of all this, people started to believe that he was no longer competition. The only thing Vanderbilt had on them was that he owned the only railroad bridge into New York City, so Vanderbilt tried to use this against people and blockaded the bridge. When this happened this left 1,000 lbs. of cargo outside the city on the railroad, so the other railroads sell shares to him so he controlled other railroads as well. This happened because he wanted to be the undisputed “Railroad King”, which he basically was. He was eventually outsmarted by Jim Fisk and Jay Gould.