Advanced Placement US History (AP US History) Practice Exam

What term is used to refer to wealthy industrialists who employed ruthless business tactics during the late 19th century?

1. Captains of Industry

2. Robber Barons

3. Union Leaders

4. Progressive Reformers

The correct answer is: Robber Barons

The term that refers to wealthy industrialists who employed ruthless business tactics during the late 19th century is "Robber Barons." This designation is attributed to the controversial practices of certain businessmen who amassed vast fortunes, often at the expense of their workers and through means that involved exploitation, monopolistic behavior, and a lack of concern for public welfare. The idea behind "Robber Barons" encompasses the perception of these industrialists as having acquired their wealth by unethical means, using strategies that included manipulating markets, crushing competition, and benefiting from the lack of regulations during that period of rapid industrialization and capitalism. This contrasts sharply with the term "Captains of Industry," which suggests a more positive view of these entrepreneurs as shapers of the economy who contributed to the nation's growth. In the broader historical context, many of these figures were associated with industries such as railroads, steel, and oil, and their legacies are often analyzed in terms of both the economic progress they facilitated and the social inequalities they exacerbated. The other terms offered—"Union Leaders" and "Progressive Reformers"—reflect different aspects of the labor movement and social change during this era, but they do not encompass the same connotation of unprincipled accumulation