What contributions to American society were made by business Leaders such as Andrew Carnegie and others referred to as "robber barons"

Robber barons were accused of eliminating competition through predatory pricing and then overcharging when they had a monopoly. The term combines the concept of a criminal robber with an illegitimate aristocrat baron. The term "robber baron" contrasted with the term "captain of industry," which described industrialists who also benefitted society. Nineteenth-century robber barons included J. P. Morgan, Andrew Carnegie, Andrew W. Mellon, and John D. Rockefeller. In order to prevent single companies from developing a monopoly over an entire industry, public officials during this era put passing and enforcing strong antitrust laws high on their agenda. The term "robber baron" was applied to powerful nineteenth-century industrialists who were viewed as having used questionable practices to amass their wealth. On the other hand, "captains of industry" were business leaders whose means of amassing a personal fortune contributed positively to the country in some way.