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1. A New War Begins

Part 1 of 4. Cornelius Vanderbilt invests in the railroad industry; John D. Rockefeller builds a massive oil pipeline.

Cornelius Vanderbilt, John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, J.P. Morgan, Henry Ford. Their names are synonymous with innovation, big business and the American Dream. They built empires. They created incredible advances in technology. They changed the world. HISTORY chronicles the lives of these visionary men in THE MEN WHO BUILT AMERICA, an eight-hour event series premiering Tuesday, October 16 at 9 p.m. on HISTORY. "THE MEN WHO BUILT AMERICA" chronicles how these five self-made men shaped the future of this country, transforming the U.S. into a global superpower in a span of just 50 years, and how they affected the lives of every person in the world. Vanderbilt was one of the first to see how railroads could change how goods are shipped, creating the model for our modern railroads. Carnegie created the process for mass-producing steel, which allowed large buildings to become a reality. Rockefeller discovered a way to refine oil that set the worldwide standard. Morgan created the modern financial system. Ford made the car accessible to the masses. (Source: The History Channel)