That isn’t quite true. The Robber Barrons controlled the major industries through building trusts, which were conglomerates of competitors that eliminated competition. These trusts were able to fix prices, fix wages, combat unions, and avoid taxes.

At that time they controlled what was the Democratic Party. The Republicans of the time - 1870 to 1902 were still really the party of Lincoln. They stood behind William Jennings Brian, who ran for president three times, and lost. He tried to fight the trusts.

But it wasn’t until Teddy Roosevelt became President that anyone took on the very rich and broke up their control of the economy, and of Congress.

America has alwasy been profits over people!