Depression

A. "The Meaning of Freedom"

African American explored the potential of freedom by stating they would bear the burdens of citizenship and preserve, protect, and defend the country in any way. But if they were to fight for the countries preservation they should be given rights and total freedom. Their desires and ambitions were to be as free as white Americans. They wanted to work, have equal rights and no longer be judged.

Analysis and Debate

1. John Q.A. Dennis did not want his children suffer under the control of their owner. When he became a free man he asked the secretary of war, Edwin M. Stanton permission to take his children and set them free. He wanted to be with and take care of his family as any free man does.

2. Ex-slaves wanted their marriages to be legalized because they wanted the union with their mate to be recognized. If they could fight in war and risk their lives for this country, they should be allowed marry.

3. Blacks deserved voting rights because the government asked them to fight for its preservation. If the government could trust Blacks in war they should be trusted to the vote.

B. "Rockefeller and His Critics"

Lloyd, Tarbell and Josephson Attacked Rockefeller because of the illegal methods he used to acquire the oil refining industry and wealth. As Standard Oil grew independently owned oil refineries had no choice but to let Rockefeller buy them out. He practically had a monopoly of the oil refining business without the public knowing.

Lloyd, Tarbell and Josephson also though that the Standard Oil Company was a threat to democracy. If the company was a monopoly, there would be no competition and oil would have to be bought from Rockefeller.

Analysis and Debate

1. Lloyd and Tarbell agreed that Rockefeller gained control of the oil industry by secretly demanding rebates from railroads in exchange for their business. The railroads rebated him on his own shipping fares. The also gave him shares of the rates paid by competitors. The railroads desperately wanted to do business with Rockefeller.

2. Henry Demarest Lloyd's style of writing was very careful but explanatory. He didn't use any names to avoid being charged but the reading public still knew who he was referring to. Ida Tarbell's style of writing was blunt and direct. This might be because her father's oil refineries were taken by Standard oil. She had first hand experience on how Standard Oil tried to take over the oil industry. I think Tarbell is an impartial observer and that her style of writing was more effective because her history allowed her to report the methods Rockefellers used to gain control of the oil refining industry.

3. Rockefellers silence was a bad strategy. I think he was silent because he didn't want to draw any more attention to himself, especially if he was operating illegally. Because he didn't address the situation, people might have though that he didn't care about their concerns or complaints. He could have tried to appease the public but instead he felt that if he ignored the situation that it would eventually disappear.

4. Matthew Josephson was motivated to write the "Robber Barons" in 1934 because of the new oil that was discovered in Texas and Oklahoma. Perhaps he wrote about it to prevent other oil companies from doing what Rockefeller did. Another reason why Josephson might have written this article