National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Robber Barons and Captains of Industry
A very thorough lesson plan from EDSITEment that explores the role of the robber barons in American industry in the 19th century. It explores the question of whether the robber barons were harmful or "Captains of Industry." You'll find...
Vassar College
Vassar College: 1896: Trusts and Monopolies
As part of a large site dealing with the election of 1896 is this article on Trusts and Monopolies. Although the focus is on the Republicans' anti-trust sentiments in the election, you can read about the rise of big business, monopolies,...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Biography of America: Capital and Labor
This thirty-minute video, the seventeenth in a series on American history, examines the rocky relationship between labor, management, and industry from 1882 to 1901. You can also read the transcript, find a map of the Anthracite Strike,...
CPALMS
Florida State University Cpalms: Florida Students: Captains of Industry: Second Industrial Revolution
This tutorial looks at the Second Industrial Revolution in the United States and the most famous and successful industrial entrepreneurs of that time. A PDF file of the tutorial is available.
Project Gutenberg
Project Gutenberg: Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie
Read about the life of this famous industrialist and philanthropist in his own words in this full-text edition published in 1920.
University of Washington
University of Washington Libraries: Early Advertising of the West
Here is a gold mine of information about advertising from 1867 to 1918 in the western part of the United States, particularly the Pacific Northwest. This collection of 450 ads shows social, cultural, and economic trends during this time...
Other
Aas: Food Production, Processing & Distribution in the North 1850 1900
This online exhibit from the American Antiquarian Society is filled with lithographs, catalogs, trade cards, and product labels that show how food production and distribution expanded in the last half of the 19th century. Be sure to...
Digital History
Digital History: The Rise of Big Business
This resource provides information about the rise of big business in America after the Civil War. Read about the modern corporation, increased mechanization, and consumer products.
Digital History
Digital History: Business Organizations [Pdf]
After a brief description of various ways that businesses are organized, find out about the monopolies formed in the age of big business in the late 19th century, focusing primarily on Standard Oil. [pdf]
Digital History
Digital History: Robber Baron or Industrial Statesman [Pdf]
John D. Rockefeller was a controversial figure in the business world of the 19th century. Read about his actions to consolidate his control of the oil refining business in all its aspects. Find arguments claiming that he was an...
University of Groningen
American History: Essays: The Iron Horse: Managing Big Business
From a lengthy essay on the history of the railroad in the United States. This section describes how, as railroads grew in size, they needed to be managed by corporations due to their increasing complexity and the size of their...
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Business Tycoons
Ouline of the blooming business industry and the development of entrepreneurs, big business, and the pursuit of financial success in 19th Century America.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Technology and Change
Oultine of the changes in industry and technology during the 1800s, bringing tremendous growth of big business, urbanization and railroads.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: j.p. Morgan and Finance Capitalism
Overview on the rise of industry resulting in the need for investment banking, of which J. P. Morgan was a pioneer.
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Comission
Explore Pa History: Henry Clay Frick Historical Marker
Henry Clay Frick was a titan of the steel industry because of his coke business, necessary in the making of steel. Read about his early life and his association with Andrew Carnegie.
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Comission
Expore Pa History: Making Steel
A good look at three of the titans of the steel industry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Read about Andrew Carnegie and his business relationship with Henry Clay Frick, and the development of Bethlehen Steel by Charles Schwab....
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: The New Tycoons: John D. Rockefeller
John D. Rockefeller was a poster boy for big business in the late 19th century. Read about how he made his vast fortune, ans see how he ran his company.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: The New Tycoons: Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie was a business magnate in the steel industry. See how he used the vertical integration theory of operating his businesses. Read also about his phlanthropy across the United States after he sold his company.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: The New Tycoons: J. Pierpont Morgan
J. Pierpont Morgan was not business tycoon who made his money from manufacturing. Read about how he accumulated wealth, how he helped the government through some economic panics, and why the government took him to court.
Digital History
Digital History: Rockefeller's Millions [Pdf]
With the discovery of oil in Pennsylvania in the mid 1800s brought a boom to the economy. Read about the beginning of the oil industry, and particularly, John D. Rockefeller's role in it. See how his control of many parts of the...
History Teacher
Historyteacher.net: The Rise of Big Business & the Labor Movement: Quiz (1)
10-question multiple choice quiz is immediately scored and tests your knowledge of industry and the labor movement in the late 19th century.
Other
Bethlehem Pa: Bethlehem Steel Company: Historical Sketch
An article from a souvenir history book of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1915 about the history of Bethlehem Steel from its beginning until 1915.