The Super Rich
The standard of living in the United States rose during the Gilded Age and Progressive Era. Men like Andrew Carnegie, Cornelius Vanderbilt, and John D. Rockefeller greatly benefited from this trend. Examine the following documents tracing the lives and times of Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller. As you look at their stories, consider the following questions:
1) Many Americans look(ed) to these men as heroes. Why?
2) On the other hand, what makes their lives controversial?
Andrew
Carnegie biography
Making Money
the Old Fashioned Way
Time line of Andrew Carnegie's life
The Rockefeller Trust maintains an archive that has lots of good primary source material on philanthropy. The organization maintains a good website at: http://www.rockefeller.edu/archive.ctr/