Answer:
If you are talking about the good robber barons like Andrew Carnegie and James Hills (private railroad maker), they positively contributed to America. These people were not funded by government but via their own capital which made them put good use of their money. The real robber barons who unjustly took advantage of subsidies and money from government to make profit were not beneficial. During the time, middle class and poor considered anyone with good business to be "robber barons" even though some they justly earned that postion.
Explanation:
