The 19th century witnessed a universal transformation from agrarian society to industrialization in America. New technologies and manufacturing techniques have allowed many men to become extremely powerful. Sometimes people referred to these men as “captains of industry,” whose resources, intellect, and power could be used for the public good. More often, however, the derogatory term "robber baron" was attributed to the business titans of the late 1800s. Robber barons amassed wealth through treason, corruption, monopolies, and conspiracies. The question of whether oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller was a robber baron has been discussed in depth by Matthew Josephson, who claimed that Rockefeller was indeed a robber baron, and by Ron Chernow, who claimed the opposite. As Josephson argued, John D. Rockefeller was one of those capitalists whose monopolies, exploitation of the poor, and unethical business practices earned him the title "robber baron." Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get Original Essay John D. Rockefeller used the power of monopolies in his perfidious conquest of oil in America. As oil was discovered in America, Rockefeller foresaw the enormous potential of the oil industry (Josephson, 29). Determined to take control of this emerging market, Rockefeller embarked on both a horizontal and vertical oil monopoly. He wanted not only to buy out competitors, but also to control every aspect of oil, from production to transportation to refining and distribution. Rockefeller relentlessly resorted to intimidation to ensure his success (Josephson, 32). He even made deals with railroad companies to increase their profits (Josephson, 32). Rockefeller's ruthless monopolization went unpunished for years. Yet his oil monopoly was only the first of his robber baron vices. John D. Rockefeller's exploits were far from victimless crimes, and his later philanthropy will never make up for the misery he caused so many thousands of lower-class workers in America. Rockefeller made life hell for those who didn't sell to him. One of the business partners of the father of the famous journalist Ida Tarbell committed suicide as a result of bad deals (Chernow, 38 years old). Fires and accidents were numerous in the already struggling Pennsylvania mines. Workers repeatedly attempted to form unions, but Rockefeller opposed them. So such horrors continued to abound in pre-labor America, thanks to robber baron John D. Rockefeller. The manner in which Rockefeller conducted his business dealings was perhaps the most heinous of all the things he did in his life. Rockefeller began his series of financial betrayals with the founding of the South Improvement Company. The South Improvement Company was a small trust of oil refiners who paid profits directly to each other (Josephson, 32). Rockefeller forced everyone who came into his trust to sign a pledge of secrecy. Members received discounts while everyone else suffered extremely high prices. Those who wished to enter the trust were valued and redeemed at half, sometimes a third, their value (Josephson, 34). Oil industry outsiders faced a lose-lose situation: sell to Standard Oil at well below value or realize no.