Why were John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie sometimes called robber barons
John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie were sometimes called robber barons because they amassed enormous wealth through practices that were seen as unethical and exploitative.
Rockefeller, for example, controlled over 90% of the oil refining industry in the United States through his company Standard Oil, using aggressive tactics such as price-fixing and strong-arm tactics to eliminate competition and control the market. Carnegie, on the other hand, built his steel empire by using low-wage labor and union-busting methods, often leading to poor working conditions for his employees.
Their immense wealth and monopolistic control over their respective industries earned them the moniker of "robber barons" as they were perceived to have gained their fortunes at the expense of workers, consumers, and competition.