Andrew Carnegie once said, “No man can become rich without himself enriching others” (Crazy Billionaires Speak: Motivational Quotes by Billionaires on Success, Business and Life 9). Many people associate Andrew Carnegie with his contributions to the economic world during his lifetime and future generations. However, he was also an inspiration to all, because he proved that a person living in tough times could ultimately strive and attain his/her utmost success. Additionally, Carnegie is the embodiment of the American Dream, because he is known as one of the greatest industrialists of his time who grew economically from rags to riches. He strived to achieve world peace and inspired others to follow his footsteps. Even more so, he was able to …show more content…
at the time. For example, a nationwide business slump occurred in the U.S. between 1873 to 1879 and recurred in 1883. Carnegie’s capability of maintaining and expanding his steel company, even throughout the slump, demonstrated his perseverance in revolutionizing steel production (Encyclopedia Britannica 242). Carnegie was able to extend his “facilities inexpensively” (Encyclopedia Britannica 242) during economic decline and, thus, encounter the high demands for steel in the years of economic growth. Another example is the Homestead Strike of 1892. The Homestead Strike was a strike initiated by steelworkers who were given a wage cut at Carnegie’s Homestead plant. While Carnegie was out of town, Henry Clay Frick, chairman of the firm and one of Carnegie's allies, refused to come to an agreement with union leaders to increase their salary. As a result, Frick stationed guards to fight off the strikers from attacking innocent workers. The strike ended in failure because guards killed strikers, Pennsylvania’s militia reopened the plant, the union fell apart, and the strikers went back to work (Encyclopedia Britannica 242). The Homestead Strike was one of many cases that some felt that the success of Carnegie’s company came at the “expense of its workers” ("Andrew Carnegie" 2). Carnegie’s involvement in this event was questioned since he was a supporter of labor unions and workers’ rights (Encyclopedia Britannica 242). Carnegie contradicted …show more content…
He strongly disbelieved in a policy that claimed, a country’s power can be extended through diplomacy or military force. Yet, he didn’t believe in Socialism either. He was also a “fellow workman” (Nasaw 340). Not only was he a landlord, but he was an active partner and worker in the steel mill. He always treated his workers no much less than he would treat himself since he was in their position when he was younger. Additionally, Carnegie teaches us important life lessons from his past experiences. For instance, he believes that if a man works constantly, he will not “win the race” (Nasaw 341). Rather, the man that will rise to higher positions is the man that manages and spends his time wisely by working and having fun at the same time (Nasaw 341). Carnegie took on himself the task of educating the public on economic matters. Carnegie argued that the two standard values (Silver and Gold) used in “civilized countries” would ruin the prosperity of the nation because silver is worth less than gold. Therefore, people, companies, and nations would take advantage of them and pay their workers with the cheaper currency, which would result in lower wages and rebellion (Nasaw 345). Furthermore, the “protection of the gold standard” (Nasaw 345) was more important to him than was the protective tariff. This argument comes to show us how much he felt for his workers and wanted to pay them fairly. He agrees that there is an unequal distribution of
The pro-union account described what happened in a allarming manner. It also described the rebellious point of view of the workers. Fricks account, which was anti-union, described why he would not give workers higher pay and the events of the stike in a reasonable way. In my opinion, it
Carnegie’s monetary success did not leave him unmindful of his journey in life, he maintained his identification with the working
Andrew Carnegie Andrew Carnegie was a captain of industry because he gained a lot of money, but didn’t save all of it for himself. He gave his money to charities and different causes that benefited others. Carnegie believed in the “Gospel of Wealth”. This was an article that Carnegie wrote about how wealthy people should give their money to others instead of keeping it for themselves. He supported education and reading because he loved to read and he thought it was important for new generations.
By Carnegie being reorganized into these traits is known as a hero. To be known as a hero, the person must have some type of courage, or confidence. Carnegie falls into the category of having courage, in (Doc B) states “ leaving wealth at death for public use…” Giving back to the place he grew up it takes courage, not that many people would of done half of
Andrew Carnegie, a Scottish American leader was best known for his steel and production and philanthropy also know as to some as a robber baron and to other as a “captain industry,” Carnegie founded the Carnegie Steel in the Progressive Era. His company led to him learning about the lives of the workers and to see how life really worked for them. He began his essay “Wealth” by describing the problems of generosity by the rich men of the upper class. Carnegie wanted the wealthy men to comprehend how to be philanthropy and reconstruct their surplus means in a responsible and thoughtful manner.
Carnegie hired Frick to oversee his steel mills, most specifically the Homestead. Frick was working every last once out of these workers, and they had had enough. They began to get together, planning a rebellion. Knowing this, Frick began to make moves of his own, quickly letting the workers know that there was going to be no changing in the way the mills were run, no change nor negotiations. This didn’t stop the workers; they continued to plan until, June 29, 1892 when 2,000 Carnegie workers stood outside the barricaded homestead mill.
As cities grew, the demand for steel and iron increased. Carnegie used steel to improve the life expectancy of bridges and railroads because of Carnegie thousands of pounds of
He was one of the first economists to change the way the economy was run. Born on November 25, 1835, Andrew Carnegie was one of the most wealthiest and famous industrialists of the late 1800s and early 1920s. He is a Scottish-born American industrialist who pushed the economy of the United States into a whole new level. He was the one who expanded America’s economy into what we know it as today. Ever since he was a young boy, he already had ambition burning inside of him.
Andrew Carnegie, a Scottish was an immigrant who grew up poor who later became symbolic and widely known as the "American Dream" and one of the richest men in the country. Andrew started very young making money. Provided he had very little formal education, Carnegie grew up in a family that believed in the importance of knowledge, learning and reading books. Carnegie made his living and became so wealthy by being a Industrialist, businessman, entrepreneur and major philanthropist. His main source that lead to his wealth was his successful Carnegie Steel Company, which in the 1890's was the largest and most profitable industrial enterprise in the world.
Carnegie did not just talk to talk he put his money where his mouth was by donating 90% of his money. In the article, he explains that the wealthy should act as a trustee for the poor administering their wealth throughout the community. Carnegie also believed that people who did not devote their life to giving away their wealth died un-honored. Andrew Carnegie was born in Dunfermline, Scotland he emigrated to the United States in 1848 he got his start in business with investments in the railroads. Carnegie started his own steel company that he would eventually sell to J.P. Morgan.
In an interview by McClure’s Magazine, a worker two years after the strike at homestead stated, “Of course, if everything is working smooth and a man watches out, why, all right! But you take it after they’ve been on duty for twelve hours without sleep, and running like hell, everybody tired and loggy, and it’s a different story.” (Document 6) Andrew Carnegie broke the union to lower production costs, which resulted in lower wages and longer hours. All workers worked in an unsafe environment, where their lives were at stake constantly due to many hours without sleep. Not only did Andrew Carnegie have the Homestead steel mill running straight after the strike, but he didn’t care to change or fix the conditions at the steel mill for his workers.
The late nineteenth century was a pivotal moment in American history. During this time, the Industrial Revolution transformed the nation, railroads had dissipated all throughout the country, and economic classes began to form, separating the wealthy from the poor. One of the wealthiest men of this generation was Andrew Carnegie, a Scottish immigrant who fled to America to make millions off the railroad, oil and even steel businesses. Carnegie is considered one of the richest men in history, and even with all that wealth he decided to give back to the community. As a matter of fact, Carnegie donated most of his funds to charities, universities and libraries in his last few years.
The organized labor of 1875-1900 was unsuccessful in proving the position of workers because of the future strikes, and the intrinsical feeling of preponderation of employers over employees and the lack of regime support. In 1877, railroad work across the country took part in a cyclopean strike that resulted in mass violence and very few reforms. An editorial, from the Incipient York Time verbalized: "the strike is ostensibly hopeless, and must be regarded as nothing more than a rash and splenetic demonstration of resentment by men too incognizant or too temerarious to understand their own interest" (Document B). In 1892, workers at the Homestead steel plant near Pittsburg ambulated out on strike and mass chaos the lives of at least two Pinkerton detectives and one civilian, among many other laborers death (Document G).
The late nineteenth century was a pivotal moment in American history. During this time, the Industrial Revolution transformed the nation, railroads had dissipated all throughout the country, and economic classes began to form, separating the wealthy from the poor. One of the wealthiest men of this generation was Andrew Carnegie, a Scottish immigrant who fled to America to make millions off the railroad, oil and even steel businesses. Carnegie is considered one of the richest men in history, and even with all that wealth he decided to give back to the community. As a matter of fact, Carnegie donated most of his funds to charities, universities and libraries in his last few years.
The Knights of Labor, founded by Terence Powderly and Uriah Stephens in 1869, helped create a union contract with Carnegie’s Braddock Mill. While the Knights of Labor were trying to have broad social reform around the country, they created a lockout in the Braddock Mill. Workers like Kratcha did not care as much about the union’s goals, instead they wanted the mills to be open so that they could earn money (25). Large business owners, like Carnegie, tried, and usually succeed, at breaking strikes and unions in their mills. In Homestead and Braddock, Kratcha experienced the effects of strikes, and they were not positive.