Comparison of J.P. Morgan and Alexander the Great

“No human being whose life has been the subject of a biographer, has been so differently estimated, both in the popular mind and in elaborate memoirs. One historian lavishly praises him. Another indiscriminately condemns him; and we are called upon to form our opinion of his life and character from their writings”  - J.P. Morgan

John Pierpont Morgan was one of the most powerful, rich, and influential men in America. He along with Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller were the titans that, to an extent, owned America. JP Morgan took control of many industries including US Steel (formally known as Carnegie Steel) and absorbed Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing which threatened to bring his General Electric to an end. When Morgan was threatened by the rising belief in congress that the titans wielded too much power over America, he, Carnegie, and Rockefeller acted together to protect their fortunes. The three titans “bought” the president by strategically donating money to William McKinley’s campaign funds; for he was a candidate who did not want to disrupt the current distribution of wealth and power in America.

After McKinley’s first term, Theodore Roosevelt started to rise as a presidential candidate, he opposed the amount of power JP Morgan and the others possessed. The Titans manages to degrade Roosevelt to become vice president under their McKinley. Vice presidency at the time was a position in which people were appointed, and then never were heard from again politically. This plan back fired when McKinley was assassinated on September 14, 1901, six months into his second term. Theodore Roosevelt becomes President of the United States, and immediately attacks JP Morgan. He sues Morgan’s Northern Securities Corporation for its monopoly of the western railroad. The case was taken all the way up to the Supreme Court, and the United States Government won. With most of his other assets still intact, JP Morgan dies in 1913 as the richest, most powerful banker in the world. After his death, Roosevelt continues to attack the business tycoons, splitting them up into smaller companies, and returning the power to the American People. Although many of his companies eventually fell to the US Government, John Pierpont Morgan was, at the height of his “empire”, the most powerful man in America.

The widespread acceptance of why Alexander the Great was great is that he was able to conquer his entire known world, which was no small feat. He used ruthless methods to conquer cities and empires, and crushed those who resisted him. This is similar to when JP Morgan absorbed Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing into his General Electric. Westinghouse and Morgan competed to win who would light the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. In the end, Westinghouse won the deal, but Morgan told his lawyers to drag Westinghouse Electric through court until Westinghouse could not pay the court fees and had to sell his business. Both men used harsh methods to gain what they wanted; they both had unreal power. Also, Alexander the Great controlled his entire known world, so did Morgan. Alexander literally conquered his world with armies, while Morgan won his with business acumens and inheritance. Morgan had a complete monopoly over the stocks, banking, and western railroads. Later on , Morgan would gain control of the entire steel industry of America. 

                                                                                                                                                      Works Cited:

 

          Strouse, Jean.   Morgan American Financier.   New York, NY.   Random House, Inc.,   1999.   Print.
         “Changing the Game”   The Men who Built America.   History Channel.   MILT,   New York.   October 30, 2012.   Television