1. The Men Who Built America

2. Cornelius Vanderbilt
Took control of small railroad lines that had been started before the Civil War, and converted them into large railways that spanned across America
Dominated the railroad industry in America
Amassed a family fortune of over $105 million
Before his death, he donated $1 million to Central University in Nashville Tennessee
renamed Vanderbilt University

3. John D. Rockefeller Made money by putting competitors out of business
Known as a robber baron – a business leader who grows rich using dishonest methods

4. Rockefeller built his first oil refinery in 1863
Created a monopoly on the oil industry by forming the Standard Oil Trust
Trust – a legal body created to hold stock in many companies, often within the same industry
The Standard Oil trust controlled 95% of the oil industry
Once in control, Rockefeller raised the price of oil

6. Rockefeller was a philanthropist
Throughout his life, he donated more than $500 million to universities and charities (over $100 billion in today’s money)

7. Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie tried to beat his competition by creating a better, cheaper product
He sought to control all the processes that led to the manufacture of steel
bought iron mines, and the ships and railroads that carried the iron ore to his mills

9. Like Rockefeller, Carnegie was also a philanthropist
His company dominated the steel industry from 1889 until 1901 when he sold to J.P. Morgan, the nation’s top banker, for $480 million
Like Rockefeller, Carnegie was also a philanthropist
Throughout his life, he donated over $350 million to universities and charities (about $67 billion in today’s money)

10. J.P. Morgan
He was one of the most powerful bankers in the United States
Helped save the U.S. Government from several financial disasters
Many felt he had too much power and control over the country’s financial system
He used his wealth to amass a huge art collection
His uncle wrote “Jingle Bells”
Originally written about Thanksgiving
Considered a failure when published in 1857

11. His banking firm, J.P. Morgan and Company is the predecessor to today’s J.P. Morgan Chase

12. Thomas Edison 1876 – opened his research laboratory in Menlo Park, NJ
Credited for many inventions
He received over 1,000 patents
Thomas Edison’s lightbulb introduced practical, safe electric lighting
Edison also developed a system to supply electricity to buildings within a city