Hale/ USH/ Robber Barons vs. Captains of Industry/ Fall 2025: Assignment

Robber Barons, 1889. - The Robber Barons of Today: an American cartoon of 1889.. Fine Art. Encyclopædia Britannica ImageQuest, Accessed September 30, 2025. https://quest.eb.com/images/140_1663723.

Ms. Hale's Handouts:

Unit 3 Essay Assignment: Robber Barons vs. Captains of Industry

Rubric for Unit 3 Essay

Research Purpose: To determine whether the industrialists of the 19th century should be remembered as Robber Barons or Captains of Industry/Philanthropists. Students will use their research to write a well-structured argumentative essay with evidence to support their thesis.

Research Requirements:

• Include references to at least 2 of the men discussed: Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, J.P. Morgan, or Cornelius Vanderbilt
• Support your arguments with specific examples
• Essays must have 3-5 pages of  body text
• Include footnotes formatted in proper Chicago Turabian style
• Include a final bibliography in proper Chicago Turabian style

Source Requirements:

• Minimum of 3 credible sources
• Consult primary and secondary sources as appropriate
• Use reliable sources-- books, library database articles, and documentaries are recommended
• No general encyclopedias, including online encyclopedias such as Wikipedia
• All web sites require a Web Site Evaluation Form and teacher approval