Question

President Grover Cleveland’s 4th Annual Address to Congress, 1888
As we view the achievements of aggregated capital, we discover the existence of trusts,
combinations, and monopolies, while the citizen is struggling far in the rear or is trampled to
death beneath an iron heel. Corporations, which should be the carefully restrained creatures of
the law and the servants of the people, are fast becoming the people's masters... [the arrogance
of government sponsored privilege] appears in the sordid disregard of all but personal interests, in
the refusal to abate for the benefit of others one iota of selfish advantage, and in combinations to
perpetuate such advantages through efforts to control legislation and improperly influence the
suffrages of the people.


What concerns does Cleveland express?
How does this challenge Carnegie’s perspective?
What reforms might Cleveland support?
use simple words and 1-2 sentences each question

Answer 1

1) He worries that big trusts and corporations are becoming too powerful, trampling ordinary citizens, using government help to keep unfair advantages, and buying influence over laws and votes.

2) This challenges Carnegie by showing that great wealth and big business do not always act for the public good; instead of being harmless or noble stewards, they can corrupt politics and hurt people unless controlled.

3) Cleveland would back laws to break up or regulate trusts and monopolies, limits on corporate influence in politics (like stopping money from buying votes), and stronger enforcement so corporations must obey the law.