The Vanderbilt Consolidation Strategy
An examination of Cornelius Vanderbilt's shift from shipping to railroads and his strategic consolidation of the New York Central system establishing a new model for corporate dominance.
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Carnegie and the Bessemer Process
This article details Andrew Carnegie's adoption and scaling of the Bessemer process for steel production, analyzing how this technological bet transformed manufacturing and construction.
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J.P. Morgan and the Panic of 1907
A case study of J.P. Morgan's role as a de facto central banker during the financial crisis of 1907, exploring the power of private finance in the absence of federal oversight.
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The Standard Oil Trust: Structure and Strategy
A deep dive into the corporate structure of the Standard Oil Trust, examining the horizontal and vertical integration strategies that led to its market dominance and eventual antitrust breakup.
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Edison, Westinghouse, and the 'War of Currents'
An analysis of the public and technical competition between direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) systems of electricity distribution, and its lasting impact on infrastructure.
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The Pullman Strike of 1894: A Turning Point
Examining the causes, events, and aftermath of the nationwide railroad strike, and its influence on American labor law and the role of federal intervention in industrial disputes.
Read Full Analysis →The Sherman Antitrust Act: Intent vs. Application
This study explores the legislative origins of the 1890 Act and analyzes its early, often contradictory, applications by the courts in cases against both trusts and labor unions.
Read Full Analysis →Ford's Assembly Line: Beyond the Automobile
An analysis of how Henry Ford's moving assembly line did more than build cars; it fundamentally reshaped the principles of mass production, labor specialization, and the global manufacturing landscape.
Read Full Analysis →The 'Gospel of Wealth' and Carnegie's Libraries
A contextual analysis of Andrew Carnegie's philosophy of philanthropy, examining the structure and impact of his library-building program as a model for large-scale institutional giving.
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