People in John D. Rockefeller's time called him a tyrant, historians believe Rockefeller is credited with ushering in the new era of business and economics, and many people today believe that he is one of the most charitable men in history; but if there is one thing that is certain, it is that Rockefeller had a huge impact on the United States and on society. By purchasing other competing companies, making deals and using his resources effectively, and starting out as an accountant working for a small commission goods shipper, Rockefeller became one of the most powerful men in the world. Since Rockefeller controlled all the companies that had to do with the extraction, production, storage and transportation of oil through the Standard Oil Company, he controlled almost all of America's Oil and had effectively minimized costs and increased profits. Rockefeller is one of the most influential people in America as he is one of the first men to contribute so much to society with his impeccable, yet ruthless business tactics, or with his generous philanthropic work. John D. Rockefeller was born on July 8, 1839 in New York, where he was the second child of 6 children. Rockefeller's father was a traveling salesman who was, much of the time, away from the family, and so he left Rockefeller's mother to end up caring for him and his siblings for much of their childhood. Rockefeller's mother taught Rockefeller many lessons about being charitable and the importance of being a devout Christian, which would later influence Rockefeller's life as he became a prominent philanthropist. Rockefeller would later uncover his father's true business as a con artist selling fake cancer cures and other fake homemade remedies, and his second... middle of paper... and made very secret and alienating deals ( South Improvement Scheme), but through all his morally conflicting actions, he revealed himself to be one of the most powerful and richest men in the world during that time. Because he was rich and powerful, he was also a devout Christian and at the end of his life he tried to clear his name of humiliating rumors and conspiracies, being a generous philanthropist. Rockefeller had a huge impact on modern business today as most of his strategies, such as vertical and horizontal integration, and the acquisition and assimilation of competitors, are still in use today, albeit somewhat limited to because of today's laws and those still standing. However, Rockefeller not only ushered in a new era of business and economics that changed the way people think today, but he also contributed a lot by donating and contributing a lot to society..