Robber Barons or Industrial Statesmen?

Late nineteenth century industrial leaders have been called "industrial statesmen" for the great economic power they helped America become. They have also been called "robber barons" because they built their great wealth by abusing the system, abusing their employees, and destroying their competitors to satisfy their own needs. These "kings" off industry displayed characteristics of both industrial statesmen and robber barons. It is therefore justified to characterize the industrial leaders of the nineteenth century as both industrial statesmen and robber barons.
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