The term used to describe powerful businessmen who were seen in a negative light was robber barons.
Explanation:
The negative term for a powerful businessman in the late 1800s is a robber baron. Some examples of robber barons could be personalities like Henry Ford, Andrew Carnegie, and Cornelius Vanderbilt. These wealthy businessmen were criticized for ruthless practices and unethical treatment of employees and customers. This was a time called America's gilded age when monopolies began to control key industries like steel and oil and they protected their power through the formation of trusts and exploiting their workers in terms of pay and benefits. However, these powerful businessmen are also considered an important motor for the growth of American capitalism and the success of the American economy.
