Robber barons

Good evening and welcome to all the parents, relatives and friends who have made this day possible for the Thornapple Kellogg High School graduating class of 2006. I would also like to thank this year’s graduates for the honor and privilege of speaking at their commencement. To be a part of such an important night in your lives is indeed a very special moment for me. Graduation marks the end of one part of your life and the beginning of unlimited possibilities. This is the moment when you…

The renowned John D. Rockefeller was the first of the great American Philanthropists. Born July 8, 1839, in the state of New York, he had always delighted in business and riches. His methodical nature combined with his genius powers of organization gave him the ability to become one of the world’s wealthiest person in all of history. His fortune was not in gold but in oil, that dark mass of runny grease which, before Rockefeller’s era, no one knew what to do with. Rockefeller entered the…

America wasn 't discovered, it was built by a group of innovative, young business men who were often referred to as America’s first captains of industry. In 1865, towards the end of the civil war, America was seen as a failing nation and as an unsuccessful democracy on the brink of collapse. However, from 1865-1914, America experienced an incredible period of growth which transformed this nation into the most powerful country in the world. During this time frame, the American economy increased…

During the late 1800s and early 1900s, new advances changed many Americans way of life. Agriculture was changed drastically by the latest technology, government policies, and economic conditions. New technology made the jobs of farmers easier which meant they wouldn’t need to labor in the fields all day, this allowed for more leisure time. As America began to shift from an agrarian society to an industrialized nation, farmers struggled with making a profit for themselves. The new advancements in…

“The challenge is to follow through on a great idea. I think if you’ve got a great idea, you need to just give it a try, and if you fall flat on your face, pick yourself up and try again. Learn from your mistakes. And, remember, you’ve got to go make a real difference in people’s lives if you’re going to be successful.” This quote by Richard Branson represents his mindset towards his business ventures which have crafted his success as an entrepreneur. Richard Branson is one of the richest and…

Good evening ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the 1905 Industrial Innovator Awards, a gathering of all our esteemed and honored business venturers and America’s leading industrialists. Tonight, our nominees for leading industrialists are John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie. Both men have contributed to the world of business and industry in a multitude of ways, but our winner tonight has exemplified the epitome of a true Captain of Industry. Born in Scotland as the son of a weaver, our…

America wasn’t always known as the World’s Leading Superpower. It wasn’t until the Cold War that America was coined this name for its’ powerful military and flourishing economy. However, this title wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for the Industrial Revolution. As a result of the modernization during the years 1865 to 1900, America advanced into a dynamic and urbanized nation of faster transportation, new machinery and technology, and an increased population. Throughout the many changes, both…

recalcitrance to other’s profit has shaped the political landscape from the 1880s forward by means of Federal regulations and incremental encroachment through all three branches (or 4th if you count the Federal bureaucracy). The derogatory term “robber barons” and has been replaced by the ongoing utterance of the “1%”. The Conservative movement on the other hand has recognized the exploitation of resources, whether it be natural, human talent or labor or the financial market as a means to…

Contemporary Sociological Theory Sociological Theories The key to understanding sociological theory, involves understand the how and why the facts of the social world relate to one another. Sociological theory can be many things from precise understanding of a single process to various paradigms for analysis as well as interpretation. Social theorist think on many levels from the general to the specific and from the mundane to the complex. Social theorist must temper their theoretical insights…

United States has the world largest prison populations Most of the inmates are not rapist murders or robbers but are drug addicts and sellers. Every year thousands of inmates are sentence to long prison terms for a variety of drug crimes. Most of the inmates are getting mandatory sentences because of laws that been put in place to curtail the use of drugs but they are not working and more and more people are going to prison for long term. The sale of illegal drugs in the US is extremely…