I must ad that the 19th century was not a time of Free markets or unregulated capitalism as some like to say. There was a great amount of corporate welfare such as subsidies to certain corporations. Franchises were granted to utilities and railroads. Pollution laws that defended property rights were often done away with in the name of the public interest. Land grants were given to certain railroads and other industries. Many of the Robber Barrons were funded by JP Morgan who was funded by the Rothschild family. The Rothschild Family benefited greatly from government enforced gold Standard and by government granted central banking monopoly. Many Robber Barons benefited from tariffs which prevented foreign competition. The 19th century and the Gilded Age were a time of massive corporate welfare and mercantilism. The 19th century should not be seen by either statists or Libertarians as a time of unregulated free markets.