原文赏析

The growth of the railroads thrusts

铁路运输的增长

America into the biggest building expansion the country has ever seen,

助推了美国有史以来最为迅猛的建设扩张

led by a new breed of leader.

由新领袖所领导

The story of America isn't just the story of the patriots

美国历史并不是一群爱国者

that helped build the democracy.

建立美国民主的故事

The reason the United States is a leading economy in the world is because

美国能够成为世界领导经济体的原因就在于

of the work of entrepreneurs who created entire industries

企业家努力创造出了整个整个的行业

that propelled the United States to be the leader of the free world.

正是这些 让美国能够成为自由世界的领导者

One man, Cornelius Vanderbilt,

科尼利厄斯·范德比尔特

through brute force and intimidation,

通过蛮力和恫吓

has made himself the undisputed king of the railroads.

让自己成为了铁路行业无可争辩的王者

He now owns forty percent of America's train lines.

这时 他拥有美国全部铁路线路的40%

But he wants them all.

但他想要所有

To me, it's always "What's next?"

总是在于"下一步是什么"

and I think that's what drives most very successful people.

成功人士都是由这个问题驱动的

It's never about the money.

钱不是意义

I mean, that's a way of keeping score.

钱只是一种计分方式

It's about achievement,

追求的是成就

and it's about winning a game,

是赢得一场游戏

and it's about upping the ante.

是加大赌注

Chicago is America's fastest growing city.

芝加哥是美国增速最快的城市

The line connecting it to New York

连接芝加哥和纽约的线路

is the most traveled and valuable in all the world.

是世界上走过最多 也是最有价值的线路

And it's not Vanderbilt's.

但它却不属于范德比尔特

To make his empire complete,

为了完成他的帝国版图

he must gain control of the Erie Line.

他必须控制伊利铁路公司

The Erie was one of the relatively early publicly traded corporations.

伊利是一家较早的公开交易公司

Vanderbilt had the advantage of millions and millions of dollars.

范德比尔特拥有数以百万美元计的巨大财富

Deep pockets are always an advantage

有钱总是最大的优势

when you're trying to gain control of a corporation.

特别是在试图取得公司控制权的时候

Vanderbilt instructs his agents

范德比尔特要求他的代理人

to buy up as much stock as possible...

尽量多地买进股票

Buying Erie!

买伊利

Buying Erie!

买伊利

demanding control of the company by the end of the week.

在这周结束之前 控制这家公司

Erie at forty-five!

伊利 价格45

It's a vintage Vanderbilt move

这是范德比尔特惯用的手法

one he pioneered—known today as a "hostile takeover".

他所开创的这种方法 现如今叫作"恶意收购"

Erie, fifty!

伊利 50

But his attempt will be thwarted by an even more ingenious idea

但他的尝试被另一种更好的创意所挫败

cooked up by two unknowns:

这种想法来自于两位当时名不见经传的人：

Jay Gould and Jim Fisk.

杰·古尔德和吉姆·菲斯克

视频资料

视频资料

洛克菲勒、范德比尔特、卡内基、阿斯托、福特和摩根，他们的名字几乎是美国梦的近义词，也代表着美国梦的历史。他们转变了他们所接触的每个行业：石油、铁路、钢铁、船运、汽车，还有金融。他们的付出改变了一个国家。出身贫寒，他们却多次涉足总统选举，设立经济政策，影响他们那个年代——内战到大萧条时期。他们，被称为造就美国的人。

重点讲解

1.Intimidate sb (into sth/into doing sth) 恐吓；威胁

例句：They were accused of intimidating people into voting for them.

他们被控胁迫选民投他们的票。

2.raise/up the ante 提高要求；增加金额

例句：Analysts say that if a counterbid emerges, the Melbourne-based mining giant has the firepower to raise the ante.

分析师说，如果出现其他竞争对手，那么这家墨尔本的矿业巨擘就必须加大赌注了。

3.Thwart sth/sb (in sth) 阻止；阻挠；对······构成阻力

例句：She was thwarted in her attempt to take control of the party.

她控制这个政党的企图受阻了。

4.cook up 捏造；伪造；编造

例句：We fear we might fail and that fear leads us to cook up stories about why you can't have what you want.

我们担心我们可能失败，这种担心使我们伪造了关于为什么我们得不到我们想要的故事。