What ways were the great industrialists robber barons or captains of industry?

Answer 1

Reguardless of what they actually did, Industrial Leaders were both Robber Barons and Captains of Industry, but just the presentation of their lifestyle could be biased to illustrate them as just one or just the other. Usually, conservative viewpoints show them as Robber Barons and Libral viewpoints show them as Captains of Industry.

Answer 2

The industrialists were no different than anyone else, in that they were out to make money. They saw a means of doing so via efficiencies and innovation as opposed to 40 hours a week of some sort of labor or service, as the majority of people do. To call them robber barons would be to "bite the hand that feeds you", or at least condemn it, as industry creates so many jobs and opportunities. Without industrialists driving the economy and producing, no one would pay the bills that our country racks up each year. And without someone to pay the bills, the looters cannot get their entitlements and handouts.

So, no, a successful industrialist is not a robber baron. 'Savvy Entrepreneur' would more accurately describe them.

Answer 3

the captains of industry.