Big Business Dbq Analysis

This essay is about the negative impact of big business on the lives of people. The purpose of this essay is to show the unfair ways big business leaders manipulated and unfairly treated people. This issue was important then because it had a large negative impact on people’s lives as they could do nothing about it. This issue is important now because changes to laws have been put in place to prevent the same problems from before from occurring once again. Big business negatively impacted the economy and politics between 1870 and 1900 Corruption in big business, specifically the railroad, negatively affect those who are not part of the manipulation. The railroad was a big business that got unfair advantages in government and could mistreat its workers for self-gain. With an economy
and way of life that depended on the railroad, officials in charge of the railroad could get away with unfair treatment of workers and unfair deals between companies without any worry of being stopped.
According to George E McNeill, labor leader, the railroad president can discharge any employee without cause and withhold wages they legally earned.(Document B) With so much power over the railroad which allowed business and the economy to continue successfully, the railroad president had the ability to mistreat his workers in this way. Anyone who may call for a lawsuit against him or accuse him of such a crime would reach a problem as the railroad kings influence reached politics in the courts. He could delay a trial or permanently postpone judgment. (Document B) Through his power in the ranks of the railroad the railroad president had influence in the economic prosperity of the nation which allowed for him to
influence the government. George Rice suffered from another type of corruption in the railroad. As the primary form of transportation the railroad controlled which businesses would most likely prosper. George Rice established his business called the Ohio Oil Works but was forced out of business since he could not sell oil as cheap as Standard Oil. The difference in price was due to the connection between the railroad and standard oil where the railroad gave Standard Oil a discount on transportation but charge full price to Ohio Oil Works.
Assembly line tasks leave a company successful but negatively effects the worker. With little pay and long hours workers were forced to follow the instructions of the big business leaders or risk being fired. As workers are taught to preform only one task in an assembly line it leaves the worker tired and with little skill to be used elsewhere. If the worker is fired the business profited from the work the person did but the worker is left with no jobs and few simple skills that may not be useful elsewhere.(Document C) One industry that subjected its workers to long and hard hours is the sewing industry pictured in Document J. For young girls, working in a factory was the last thing they wanted to do but knew they needed to. Conditions were dangerous, had long jours, and low pay. If any product was damaged the worker would have to pay for it out of their paycheck. Even in the case where a worker was injured, they must continue working or else be docked pay and possibly fired.The conditions of
Government is being oppresses and needs to expand its own influence not the influence of big business. As seen in Document D the senate may be officially in charge of the government but the big business leaders, pictured bigger and made of money bags, ruled over the senate using their influence and money. Through bribes directly to senate members or powerful influence over the daily operations of the entire country, the big business owners had the power to boss around the Senate instead of listening to the Senate.
In document E Andrew Carnegie states, "This then, is held to be the duty of the man of Wealth: First, to set an example of modest, ostentatious living, shunning display or extravagance; to provide moderately for the legitimate wants of those dependent upon him."