The "Gilded Age" is the nickname given to the late 19th century when wealthy and powerful business tycoons built huge financial empires. Many Americans came to idealize these businessmen, while others resented the ruthless tactics some of them took. Most, like John D. Rockefeller, were fierce competitors, single-minded in their pursuit of financial success and power.

Rockefeller created the Standard Oil Company in 1870 and over the next 40 years eliminated nearly all competition. For better or worse, business interests like Rockefeller's acquired significant influence over the American government. In 1904, the muckraking journalist Ida Tarbell published The History of Standard Oil Co. which exposed many of the cutthroat maneuvers the company undertook. This eventually led the Supreme Court to declare Standard Oil to be a monopoly under the Sherman Antitrust Act in 1911 and broken up into 90 different companies.

1. What might be considered an example of a "ruthless business tactic"?

1. Why might a business want to gain influence over the government?

1. What is the main idea of the cartoon?