History Classroom: The Men Who Built America

Episode Synopsis

Vanderbilt, Rockefeller, Carnegie and Morgan have gone unmonitored for decades, but American politicians are about to change that. They want to guard against monopolies and an unbalanced use of power. The men, some lifelong enemies, come together with a play to gain influence with the White House. Their candidate, William McKinley, wins the White House and passes legislation favorable to big business. Morgan and Carnegie create u.S. Steel, the first billion-dollar company in the u.S. while Rockefeller takes control of 90 percent of North American oil.