“THE AMERICAN ECONOMY WAS LINKED BY RAILROADS, FUELED BY OIL AND BUILT BY STEEL.

”
Cornelius Vanderbilt, John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, Episode 1: A New War Begins
J.P. Morgan, Henry Ford – their names are synonymous with As the nation attempts to rebuild following the destruction of the
innovation, big business and the American Dream. These leaders Civil War, Cornelius Vanderbilt is the first to see the need for unity
sparked incredible advances in technology while struggling to to regain America’s stature in the world. Vanderbilt makes his mark
consolidate their industries and rise to the top in shipping and then the railroad industry. Railroads stitch together
of the business world. The Men Who Built America™ chronicles the the nation, stimulating the economy by making it easier to move
connections between these iconic businessmen and explores the goods across the country. But Vanderbilt faces intense competition
way they shaped the country, transforming the early on, showing that captains of industry will always be chal-
U.S. into a global superpower in just 50 years. lenged by new innovators and mavericks.

Tracing their roles in the oil, steel, railroad, auto and financial Key terms to define
industries, this series uses stunning CGI and little-known stories to ARCHETYPE, ENTREPRENEUR, INFRASTRUCTURE, INGENUITY,
examine the lives of these iconic tycoons. How did these leaders INNOVATION
advance progress, and what were the costs and consequences of
American industrial growth? What role did everyday Americans Discussion Questions
play in this growth, and how were their voices heard? This series is
an excellent companion for course units on business, American 1. Some may have called the United States a “failed
history and the Industrial Revolution. experiment” after the Civil War. Why?

Curriculum Links 2. What role did Vanderbilt play in helping the country
The Men Who Built America would be useful for American history, rebuild after the Civil War?
politics and social studies courses. It is recommended for high
school students. Due to some intense content, we recommend that 3. What is a hostile takeover? How did Vanderbilt deal with
teachers watch this program before recommending it to students. this kind of competition?

4. What major industries emerged in the decades after

the Civil War?
20 | THE IDEA BOOK for educators
Related Video Clip
Have students watch this clip for additional background
information and discuss the role of Vanderbilt in helping
stimulate the U.S. economy: history.com/shows/men-who-built-
america/videos/the-men-who-built-america-the-rise-of-corne-
lius-vanderbilt

Activity
Thomas Nast created cartoons criticizing the robber barons
for their role conflicts in the railroad industry wars.
Click here to view one of these cartoons. What does the
cartoon reveal about the railroad wars? Alternately, have
students search for another Nast cartoon and analyze it.

Episode 2: Oil Strike

Vanderbilt expands his enterprises, realizing that oil is the
nation’s next crucial commodity. The demand for oil is high and
Vanderbilt knows that it will be an important item for his trains
to transport. He turns to a young oilman from California
named John D. Rockefeller to make a deal that will work for
both businessmen, but rivalries emerge between them.
Rockefeller’s Standard Oil has become one of the nation’s first
monopolies. A financial panic in 1873 shows that the American
economy is on shaky ground even as it expands.

Key terms to define The bridge opens in 1874. Before Carnegie realizes the full
ETHIC, MODERNIZATION, MONOPOLY, REFINERY, REVENUE potential of steel, his mentor Scott dies in a state of humilia-
tion over the success of John D. Rockefeller’s oil pipeline.
Discussion Questions Carnegie vows to have his revenge and best Rockefeller. With
1. What does it mean to “beat the odds,” and how is John the steel industry thriving, U.S. cities start to grow. But can
Rockefeller an example of this concept? Carnegie stay at the top of his game?

2. What is refining oil, and why was it so important when oil Key terms to define
first became a popular commodity? CAPITALIZE, DECIMATE, OMINOUS, SURGE,
UNPRECEDENTED
3. Standard Oil was one of the nation’s first monopolies. What
is a monopoly? Why do you think leaders like Rockefeller Discussion Questions
wanted to shut out competition? 1. 
What was the Bessemer steel process and how did it
transform the construction industry?
4. What was the Panic of 1873?
2. 
Why were infrastructure projects such as bridges and roads
Related Video Clip so important to American growth?
Watch this video clip to learn more about Standard Oil:
history.com/shows/men-who-built-america/videos/rockefel- 3. 
Why do you think Carnegie and Rockefeller became rivals?
lers-standard-oil What did they have in common and what divided them?

Activity Related Video

In this episode, viewers learn about the Panic of 1873. Research Watch this video to learn more about Andrew Carnegie’s rise
this economic crisis and write a short essay about the causes to prominence: history.com/shows/men-who-built-america/
and consequences. videos/the-men-who-built-america-andrew-carnegie

Episode 3: A Rivalry is Born Activity

Andrew Carnegie is an immigrant from Scotland who arrives in Andrew Carnegie published an essay entitled “Wealth” (later
the U.S. with his parents and starts working at age 12. He finds titled “The Gospel of Wealth”) in which he discussed his views
a patron in railroad executive Tom Scott who teaches him on capitalism. Read an excerpt from this essay at historymat-
about the business. Scott hires him to build a bridge over the ters.gmu.edu/d/5766 and write a response paper. What does
Mississippi River to link East and West. Carnegie agrees even Carnegie say about the responsibilities of wealth?
though the project carries risk. He finds his answer in steel.

THE IDEA BOOK for educators | 21

 Related Video
Watch this video about the Homestead Strike to learn more
about this event: history.com/shows/men-who-built-america/
videos/homestead-strike

Activity
The Johnstown Flood was one of the worst disasters in
American history. Read these stories from the New York
Times: johnstownpa.com/History/hist30.html. Research the
flood online and write a short essay about the flood and its
outcomes, including the role of the Red Cross.

Episode 5: A New Rival Emerges

While Carnegie and Rockefeller continue to battle, J.P. Morgan
arrives on the scene and establishes a bank in New York City
that has one goal: to further the technological advancements
of America through finance. As he builds his empire and
consolidates industries, Morgan decides to take a big risk. He
enlists inventor Thomas Edison to help bring electricity to
every home and business in the country. Rockefeller continues
to expand his Standard Oil Company and aims to keep kero-
sene as the dominant resource powering electricity. Regard-
Episode 4: Blood is Spilled less of these competitive dynamics, American infrastructure is
Carnegie hires Henry Frick to help him achieve his goal of growing and cities are on the rise.
dominating the steel industry and besting Rockefeller. The
partnership seems promising, but Frick is pushing workers to Key terms to define
a breaking point. Meanwhile, the Johnstown Flood of 1889 COMPENSATION, EMPIRE, LIABILITY, PATENT, RESOLVE,
leaves 2,000 people dead, and Carnegie’s South Fork Fishing VOLTAGE
& Hunting Club faces blame. Worker unrest culminates in a
massive strike at the Homestead Steel plant in 1892. Violence Discussion Questions
ensues when Frick calls in the Pinkerton security agency. The 1. 
What were some of the challenges Carnegie faced? Do you
strike is a major turning point in American labor history, think he could have avoided these difficulties?
showing how workers would fight for fair wages and conditions
when faced with injustice. Carnegie is determined to make up 2. 
What were J.P. Morgan’s major areas of business? Why was
for these scars on his reputation. he such an important figure in U.S. history?

Key terms to define 3. 

What role does risk play in big business? What kinds of risks
ANARCHIST, INDUSTRIAL, MAGNATE, MERCENARY, did Carnegie and Rockefeller take?
PROGRESSIVE
Related Video
Discussion Questions View this short video to learn more about J.P. Morgan and the
1. 
What caused the Johnstown Flood? What were some of the rise of American finance:
outcomes of this disaster? What role did the American Red history.com/shows/men-who-built-america/videos/the-rise-of-
Cross play? j-p-morgan?m=5189719baf036&s=All&f=1&free=false

2. 
Do you think Henry Frick was a good leader? Why or Activity
why not? View Thomas Edison’s patent application for the lightbulb at
the National Archives Our Documents site:
3. 
Why did workers strike at the Homestead Steel plant? Why ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?doc=46 What does this letter
was the strike an important turning point in American reveal about the patent application process?
history?
Episode 6: Owning It All
4. Do you think Carnegie was responsible for the Johnstown With an investment from Morgan, the Edison Electric Company
Flood and the Homestead strike? Why or why not? is created and begins wiring homes in New York. A rival, Nikola
Tesla, soon emerges with a different technology for electric
light. A battle between Alternating Current (AC) and Direct
Current (DC) power ensues. Morgan eventually buys out
Edison and forms General Electric which adopts AC power,

22 | THE IDEA BOOK for educators

setting the stage for the next several decades of electric Related Video
power. Meanwhile, there is increasing unrest among American View this video to learn more about Thomas Edison’s experi-
workers as the gap between the rich and the poor grows. ments with electricity: history.com/shows/men-who-built-
america/videos/the-rise-of-thomas-edison
Key terms to define
BEDROCK, HORSEPOWER, PRIVATE SECTOR, STREAMLINE, Activity
VIABLE, VULNERABILITY, WATERSHED, View this photo gallery of the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago:
fieldmuseum.org/about/multimedia/opening-vaults-wonders-
Discussion Questions 1893-worlds-fair-photo-gallery
1. What is the difference between AC and DC power?
After doing your own research create a one-sheet or short
2. What do you think of Morgan’s decision to buy out Thomas presentation about the World’s Fair and its importance in
Edison? Do you think this decision was fair to Edison? U.S. history.

3. Why was J.P. Morgan’s ability to loan funds to the federal Episode 7: Taking the White House
government so important? Do you agree with one Vanderbilt, Rockefeller, Carnegie and Morgan have gone
commentator that this was an “act of nationalism”? unmonitored for decades, but American politicians are
about to change that. They want to guard against monopolies
4. What is “Morganization”? Why was this approach an and an unbalanced use of power. The men, some lifelong
important and notable feature of the American economy? enemies, come together with a play to gain influence with
the White House. Their candidate, William McKinley, wins the
White House and passes legislation favorable to big business.
Morgan and Carnegie create U.S. Steel, the first billion-dollar
company in the U.S. while Rockefeller takes control of 90
percent of North American oil.

THE IDEA BOOK for educators | 23

Key terms to define Episode 8: The New Machine
ANTI-TRUST, CAPITAL, ELITE, LUCRATIVE, NICHE, After McKinley is assassinated, Theodore Roosevelt becomes
PROSPERITY, RUTHLESS president and quickly passes a series of regulations increasing
oversight of American business. Henry Ford devises the plan
Discussion Questions for a gas-powered car, and he launches the assembly line as an
1. Why were American workers upset at the time of the 1896 innovative method of production. He targets the middle class
election? How did William Jennings Bryan attempt to with his Model T and changes the landscape of America.
address some of their concerns?
The Panama Canal opens up new trade routes. Rockefeller is
2. Why did the business tycoons put their support behind put on trial for anti-trust violations. He loses in court and his
William McKinley? Were they successful? company, Standard Oil, is one of the first monopolies broken up
by the U.S. government. J.P. Morgan helps to establish the
3. What does “anti-trust” mean? Do you agree with the Federal Reserve and cements his legacy as the father of
strategy of breaking up businesses that become very modern capitalism. He and other big business leaders become
dominant in one industry? major philanthropists. As the U.S. Army sets sail for Europe in
World War I, one thing is clear…these men didn’t discover
4. Watch this video to learn more about the rise of American America, they built it.
industrial tycoons: history.com/shows/men-who-built-ameri-
ca/videos/the-men-who-built-america-from-rich-to-richer Key terms to define
DURABLE, MONOPOLY, PHILANTHROPY, SUPERPOWER,
Activity UTILITARIAN
The Sherman Anti-Trust Act was designed to limit monopolies
by prohibiting large trust companies. View this Act at the Discussion Questions
National Archives Our Documents site: ourdocuments.gov/doc. 1. Why was the election of President Theodore Roosevelt
php?flash=true&doc=51 so significant? What were some of the major changes
he made?
What does it say about monopolies, and what punishments did
it suggest for violators? 2. What were some of Henry Ford’s key innovations?

3. Why was the Panama Canal such an important project?

4. What is philanthropy? Do you think all business leaders are

obligated to also be philanthropists?

Related Video
View this video to learn more about President Theodore
Roosevelt’s role in limited big industry: history.com/shows/
men-who-built-america/videos/theodore-roosevelt-vs-big-in-
dustry?m=5189719baf036&s=All&f=1&free=false

View this clip to learn about Henry Ford’s rise:

history.com/shows/men-who-built-america/videos/henry-fords-mo-
tor-company?m=5189719baf036&s=All&f=1&free=false

Activity
The Child Labor Act of 1916 was developed to eliminate the
abuse of children in the workforce. View the Child Labor Act
and read the text, and also view related photos by Lewis Hine
linked on the National Archives Our Documents site: ourdocu-
ments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=59

Write an essay or op-ed about child labor violations and the

importance of this Act.

24 | THE IDEA BOOK for educators

Related Websites
Learn more about the business leaders featured in The Men
Who Built America™, watch related video and more: history.com/
shows/men-who-built-america

Test your knowledge and take The Men Who Built America
Trivia Quiz: history.com/shows/men-who-built-america/
interactives/men-who-built-america-trivia-quiz

Background information about the Industrial Revolution in the

U.S.: history.com/topics/industrial-revolution

Essay by T.J. Stiles/Gilder Lehrman Institute of American

History: “Robber Barons or Captains of Industry?”:
gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/gilded-age/essays/rob-
ber-barons-or-captains-industry

Related Books
These books are recommended for teachers and advanced
students interested in learning more about these topics for
research papers or classroom projects.

Chernow, Ron. The House of Morgan: An American Banking

Dynasty and the Rise of Modern Finance. (Grove Press, 2010).

Jonnes, Jill. Empires of Light: Edison, Tesla, Westinghouse, and

the Race to Electrify the World. (Random House, 2004).

Morris, Charles. The Tycoons: How Andrew Carnegie, John D.

Rockefeller, Jay Gould, and J.P. Morgan Invented the American
Supereconomy. (Holt, 2006).

Watts, Steven. The People’s Tycoon: Henry Ford and the

American Century. (Vintage, 2006).

THE IDEA BOOK for educators | 25