Outline #3 Industrialization and Big Business in the Late 1800s ...

II. Questions for Discussion
1. Describe the oil industry during the first "oil booms." What do you see as the
positive and negative aspects of the way the industry functioned? What does the
early oil industry suggest about American capitalism in the early-to-mid 1800s?
2. How did Rockefeller view the early days of oil drilling and refining? What did
he see as the problems and how and why did he seek to address them?
3. What were some of the tactics Rockefeller used to develop Standard Oil? How
did other people respond to Rockefeller's actions?
4.The documentary characterized the controversy over Standard Oil as a clash
between the values of the 19th century and the values of the 20th century? What
19th century values and what 20th century values were in conflict? Which values
won out and why?
5. What do you think of Tarbell’s argument that it was okay for Standard Oil to
grow as big and rich as possible, but only by “legitimate” means? What means were
“legitimate” and which were not?
6. Why were Ida Tarbell’s articles so damaging to Standard Oil?
7. What was/is the legacy of Standard Oil?