History
479B
Devine
Study
Questions: Sproat, “Organizing and Rationalizing
American Capitalism”
- While
Porter’s book emphasizes the structural factors that brought about the
rise of big business, Sproat’s article examines
the contributions of three individual entrepreneurs. How did the personal characteristics of
Rockefeller, Carnegie, and Morgan shape the businesses they built? To what extent did these individuals put
their own stamp on the way big business developed?
- To what
degree was Rockefeller’s success due to “luck”? To what degree was it due to “pluck”?
- Which of
Rockefeller’s qualities seem to have been most significant in contributing
to his success?
- Why did
Rockefeller find Social Darwinism a congenial explanation for the growth
of big business?
- Why did
Rockefeller desire centralization and consolidation?
- What were
the central tenets of Carnegie’s “Gospel of Wealth”?
- Which of
Carnegie’s qualities seem to have been most significant in contributing to
his success?
- What does
the author see as Carnegie’s primary character flaws?
- How did
Morgan amass his wealth and power?
What personal traits allowed him to achieve such success?
- In what
ways did Morgan differ from Carnegie and Rockefeller?
- According
to Sproat, why did Morgan’s “new order” not work
out as well as he had anticipated?
- What is
your overall assessment of these men?