The history of the Standard Oil Company [Belt abridged ed]

Cleveland oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller formed the Standard Oil Company of Ohio in 1870. Over the next four decades, Rockefeller turned his company into a behemoth, systematically driving his competitors out of business or buying them outright. His vast fortune made him one of the nation's most powerful men, but his private empire was nearly undone by the tireless journalism of a single, determined woman. Published in 1904, Ida Minerva Tarbell's The History of the Standard Oil Company exposed Rockefeller's monopolistic tactics to the public, eventually resulting in the company's dismantling in 1911. Yet Tarbell's work is more than simply a monumental piece of reporting; it is a deft, engrossing portrait of business in America — both its virtues and excesses. Cover Title Page Copyright Contents Publisher’s Note Introduction Author’s Preface I. The Birth of an Industry II. The Rise of the Standard Oil Company III. The Oil War of 1872 IV. “An Unholy Alliance” V. Laying the Foundations of a Trust VI. Strengthening the Foundations VII. The Crisis of 1878 VIII. The Compromise of 1880 IX. The Fight for the Seaboard Pipeline X. Cutting to Kill XI. The War on the Rebate XII. The Buffalo Case XIII. The Standard Oil Company and Politics XIV. The Breaking Up of the Trust XV. A Modern War for Independence XVI. The Price of Oil XVII. The Legitimate Greatness of the Standard Oil Company XVIII. Conclusion About the Authors Journalist Ida Tarbell wrote serialized stories from 1902 to 1904 exposing the Standard Oil Company monopoly and the role of owner John D. Rockefeller in creating commercialized American ideals and materialistic values. Tarbell describes Rockefeller's business practices, personal characteristics, and physical appearance. This "muckraking" form of journalism led to regulation of Standard Oil