Part 7/15:
Philip Armour transformed Chicago into the epicenter of meatpacking. During the Civil War, he capitalized on pork sales to the Union Army, then built Armor & Company into a colossal enterprise through ruthless efficiency—using every part of the animal and scaling operations at the Union Stock Yards. His factories were notorious for low wages, harsh conditions, and even private militias, exemplifying industrial exploitation. Yet, his philanthropy later aimed to improve worker housing and education, blending brutality with charity.