Without the wealthy, industrial tycoons of the late 19th century, how would The United States of America differ today? The oil, steel, mining, shipping, railroad and many other industries have contributed a vital role to how America works today. Andrew Carnegie, John Davison Rockefeller, Cornelius Vanderbilt, and J.P. Morgan were only a few of the money-hungry titans of America’s industrial beginnings, who contributed to the start up of a major industry-based time period.
Scottish-American industrialist Andrew Carnegie founded and led the Carnegie Steel Company in the 1870’s, a major breakthrough for the steel industry. Andrew conducted the major expansion of the steel economy in the 19th century and has been identified as one of America’s richest for decades. Carnegie was born in Scotland, arrived in the states at 8 years old and came into America being illiterate, with no skills in reading or writing. Even with substantial disadvantage, the tycoon still made his name known in the states by investing in bridges, oil derricks, railroads, and sleeping cars. The stock economy has not changed significantly since Carnegie’s time, considering he is still considered a merchant prince in today’s newfound era. Carnegie also had a daughter, Margaret Carnegie Miller, whom he wanted to follow in his footsteps and so
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Andrew’s first job was a messenger boy, bearing in mind, in his time telephones were not a thing, he made an earning of $1.25 a week and eventually worked his way up
Zack Spira 10/16/14 Study Skills Mr.Allison In the late 1800s not too many business owners became wealthy and took control of industries. Andrew Carnegie's parents were poor immigrants from Scotland and began to work their way up to be business leaders. Carnegie built the largest steel company and created a monopoly.
Big business leaders of 1877-1900 during the United States Gilded Ages pioneered new methods of efficiently, used unskilled labors, and evidently set the modern precedent for businesses in the United States today. John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, and J.P. Morgan made their fortunes through hard work, ambition, and skill. Most of these men transformed themselves from poverty-stricken boys they grew up as, to the richest businessmen in American history. Although their success was created by the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, they shaped today's modern industrialism. Each created one of the largest, most powerful, and successful corporations in America at the time.
Between 1877 and 1920, America was reborn economically and industrially, which go hand in hand. The United States owe all of this economic growth as the result of Reconstruction during the post-Civil War era. From the 1880s and on, there was a “rapid expansion of factory production, mining, and railroad construction” (Foner 605). The expansion out west contributed to the expansion because companies were no longer limited to working either in the south or the New England area, and “a working free labor system” (Foner 571) established by the Freedman’s Bureau, an agency created during Reconstruction. Andrew Carnegie was a leader for helping the United States being able to be successful in industrializing the country by creating companies along every step of the way to construct a
Starting out as a poor Scottish immigrant, Carnegie was able to fairly make his way up the industrial food chain. Beginning as a teenage messenger boy in a Pittsburgh telgraph office, Carnegie became one of the first in the country to take messages by sound. This useful skill allowed Carnegie to ascend the industrial ladder. After investing all he owned into the steel mill corporation, Carnegie became one of the wealthiest men in the world. While occasionally being dubbed a "robber baron", Carnegie would quickly prove himself otherwise with his extreme generosity.
Andrew Carnegie: Road to Wealth and Success Seen as a robber baron, Andrew Carnegie may have toll advantage of his loyal employees and his relentless competition, his personal intentions and innovations within the steel industry and his philanthropic distribution undeniably changed America’s society and views of education. In the early nineteenth century, American industrialist were gathering good ideas through Carnegie’s innovations and initiative. When Carnegie started out onto the road to success and wealth, from rags to riches and earned his big reputation that he brought among himself. For the successful people who misused their employees and competition were inevitably labeled as “robber barons,” i.e. John D. Rockefeller.
This made him one of the wealthiest men on Earth, of his era. At age 12, Andrew Carnegie could not go to school because of his family’s financial problems. He began working for John Scott as a mailboy. Scott saw Carnegie’s potential and took him under his wing.
Almost immediately after his arrival, Carnegie took a job in a cotton mill changing bobbins shortly after his family’s arrival. He worked from sunrise to sunset six days a week, receiving minimum pay. However, he was permitted to read in the library provided for the workers and did so avidly, nurturing his love of reading and books. Similarly to Carnegie’s immigration, Rockefeller and his family moved to Cleveland. However, unlike Carnegie, he attended high school and went on to attend business school for a short time.
"The golden gleam of the gilded surface hides the cheapness of the metal underneath.” This remark by Mark Twain, an renown social commentator, sums up the corruption that concerned many during the 19th century (“Exhibitions”). It is estimated that one percent of the population had possession of 88 percent of the nation’s assets (Brinkley 477). Many felt their rights as a citizen of a republic were endangered because so few people controlled such power and money (Brinkley 472). People were concerned that the robber barons were using that power to control the prices to their own personal benefit (Brinkley 476).
Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919) was a self-made steel tycoon and one of the wealthiest businessmen of the nineteenth century. Adopting the business model of vertical integration, Carnegie not only founded the Carnegie Steel company in 1873, but was also the principal owner of the Homestead & Edgar Thompson steel works and other large steel mills by 1881. Along with opening the Scotia Iron mines to provide his own raw materials for his mills and then building a railroad to haul the ore. Moreover, he firmly believed that by controlling his source of supply of ore he would become wealthy. Additionally, Carnegie built plants around the country, using technology and methods that made manufacturing steel easier, faster and more productive.
“Much of the blame heaped on the captains of industry in the late 19th century is unwarranted.” (Document F). The Gilded Age was a time where the U.S. economy grew very quickly and rapidly, due to the inventive minds and entrepreneurs of that time; but it has different perspectives of opinions in history today. This era led the U.S. to its state and place in the present world, thanks to its important contributors, (who are involved in the main debate of whether they were robber barons, unethical men who yearn for money, or captains of industry, leaders who add positive ideas and methods to benefit their country.) The industrial leaders of the Gilded Age are captains of industry, worthy of some gratitude and credit for how our society’s structure
Summary Andrew Carnegie's steel empire started in eighteen seventy and ended in nine teen o seven because He sold it for millions of dollars, and it made him one of the most successful men then. when he entered the steel business he became a dominate force to other companies and people, and later sold it for four hundred eighty million dollars, making him one of the most successful men then had the most successful philanthropist too. Andrew Carnegie expanded railroad investments and found the steel empire. He was a very successful man in the industry. Exploration Andrew Carnegie was just a little boy when he moved to the USA.
During the late 19th century, there was a growth in industrialization. This brought new opportunities for the poor and the rich. For example, Carnegie helped build the steel industry in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, which made him one of the richest man in the world. As Carnegie gained more wealth, he questioned who money should be given to. Carnegie was both a Robber Baron and a Captain of Industry.
An immigrant from Scotland who turned into an American millionaire. Adjusted in 2014s economy, Carnegie would have been worth three-hundred and seventy-two billion dollars. Carnegie was extremely rich due to his ownership and monopoly he had on American steel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This made Carnegie someone who worried about the U.S. economy quite often, leading him to write his essay about the Philippines. Carnegie wrote Distant Possessions after the United States had fought in the Spanish-American and Philippine-American war with the knowledge that America was more than likely going to decide what the fate of the Philippines was going to be.
A captain of industry can be defined as ¨a business leader whose means of amassing a personal fortune contributed positively to the country in some way.” Andrew Carnegie was an ideal representation of a captain of industry, he was born poor, yet he rose the ranks and became a successful businessman who dedicated his fortune to good causes. Due to his success and innovation in the steel industry and his benevolent donations, Andrew Carnegie was a prosperous businessman who benefited lives across America. Andrew Carnegie furthered the steel industry and brought forward new innovations that advanced technology and market shares for generations. Not only did Carnegie develop technologies, he helped forge new business models.
He grew up in poverty. His father's name was William Carnegie, William worked as a weaver and was the only source of income for the family. Carnegie’s mother's name was Margaret Morrison. Carnegie’s father died in 1855, after his death Carnegie realized that he would have to take care of the family. Carnegie gotta education and by the age 18 Carnegie was a secretary for Thomas A. Scott, the superintendent of the western division for the Pennsylvania Railroad.