Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner wrote the book The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today. This book depicted an "American Society that despite its appearance of promise and prosperity, is riddle with corruption and scandal." Today in American history this is how we explain this period of time (1870-1916). .
The beginning of railroads not only brought goods and resources across the country at alarming rates, it also brought people. The railroads helped cut travel time in half, giving thousands of people a chance to finally explore their country as well as have a wider choice of goods to purchase. People were now able to transport cash crops like wheat, corn, and tobacco1 across the country for a fraction of the cost they were used to paying. The railroads also provided thousands of jobs for men all over the country. It brought thousands of immigrants from all over, looking for jobs and knowing that America was quickly becoming the land of opportunity. .
Railroads quickly became a fool proof system to exploit and use to its fullest extent, which is exactly what Cornelius Vanderbilt did when he began to build his empire of railroad systems, connecting the most populated cities across the United States of America. Vanderbilt soon owned almost 90% 2 of all the railroads in the country and started transporting oil from John D. Rockefellers oil company. Rockefeller was a young and upcoming business man and knew from the beginning that he wanted to make millions. He began by making the deal with Vanderbilt but, later was hungry for more and knew he could get a better deal for his oil. Rockefeller started refining oil into kerosene, which helped light up families' homes with the help of lamps. This goes on to bring Rockefeller the fame and fortune he so desired all along.
John D. Rockefeller begins to take over 90% of the oil market,1 buying out all the oil refineries he can. This causes quite the stir up between Vanderbilt and other men Rockefeller had made deals with on shipping his oil.