During the Industrial Revolution big businesses took places of small workshops, increasing to quantity but not quality. This made many people lose their jobs, and now there was only one place to work the factories. Ahead of these factories were big business owners, some born into money others worked their way up to it like Andrew Carnegie. Work at these factories became unsafe and the pay was bad, they could only blame one person and that was the owners. People of this time saw these business owners as either villain or hero, witch side of the scale do Andrew Carnegie falls on?
Carnegie was considered a Robber Baron for many reasons. For example, he gained huge profits because of his workers low wages. In the excerpt, “Who was Andrew Carnegie,” the author said, “his steel workers were often pushed to long hours and low wages.” Workers worked in harsh conditions and received no benefits causing them to live in poverty with scarce food, clothing, and shelter. Workers were tired of the low wages and decided to go on strike. This is also known as the Homestead Strike. Carnegie then hired Pinkerton thugs to attack the workers. In the same excerpt, the author says, “he hired Pinkerton thugs to intimidate strikers. Many were killed in the conflict, and it was an episode that would forever hurt Carnegie's reputation and haunt the man.” He uses unfair ways to have a successful business through low wages, and using wealth to his
After the Civil War, the Second Industrial Revolution was established due to America’s rapid growth for industry and economics. Capitalists during the industrial period of 1875-1900’s were either accused of being a robber baron or a captain of industry. Some capitalists leaders who were accused of being a robber baron or captain of industry included J.P. Morgan, Andrew Carnegie, Andrew W. Mellon, and John D. Rockefeller. A robber baron is a business leader who gets rich through cruel and scandalous business practices. The captains of industry is a business leader who wants to better the companies in a way that it would be positively contributing to the country. The most accurate characterization for the time period of 1875-1900’s were both
In the past, there have been many influential economic figures in the industrial business industry. Andrew Carnegie is one of the most famous of these figures but not just in a business scheme, but also in an economic and national scheme. Andrew Carnegie is a business man that caused a major controversial issue to arise; the topic of being labeled a Robber Baron or a Captain of Industry by the public. A Robber Baron is someone who has become wealthy through heartless and unethical business actions that will only benefit the individual. On the other hand, a Captain of Industry is a business leader who has become rich by accomplishing activities that will, overall, benefit the people of the community such as expanding a market or providing more jobs. There have been many debates on which one
Andrew Carnegie was a “robber baron” as shown in the way he acted towards the people who helped him reach the top and the terrible working environment that he subjected his workers to. He did various things in an attempt at overshadowing the awful things he did and positively alter his public image. His mentor, Thomas Scott, taught him the skills he would use to become the undisputed king of steel. Costs were the most important aspect of any business and reducing those required cutting wages, demanding 13 hour days and utilizing spies as a way to thwart possible strikes. Many years after Carnegie had gone out on his own, Scott met with him thinking that the years they spent together and all he had taught him would unquestionably result in help in his time of trouble.
Robber Barons were people who built a fortune by stealing money from the American people, and creating monopolies. The men of the 1800’s were Robber Barons. These men drove out their competition, treated their workers terribly, and created monopolies. Some Robber Barons at the time include, John D. Rockefeller, and Cornelius Vanderbilt. 7 percent of American people owned 90 percent of America’s wealth in total. Most of these people were Robber Barons who had a monopoly.
Many people believe that Andrew Carnegie was a hero. I disagree, I believe that he was not a hero but a robber baron. Throughout every aspect of his life including his personal life, business approach, and his philanthropy show that he was not a hero. He has done many wrong and unjust things in these parts of his life they prove that he was not heroic. Not only is he not heroic but he is also a robber baron.
Andrew Carnegie was a major capitalist of the 19th century. He became a major capitalist in the steel industry. He attained much of his wealth because he practically created the steel industry. Starting from the bottom and working is way to the top Andrew Carnegie became one of the richest men during his time. Starting at earning a dollar and twenty cents a week. Over time he will gain experience as a telegraph messenger and work at a Pennsylvania railroad this will help him to get a job in the railroad industry and three years later he is the superintendent. The next decade Andrew now owns his own steel business called Carnegie Steel Company. Andrew Carnegie revolutionized steel as we knew it using technology and procedures that made making steel much faster. For this he is a “Captain of the Industry”. Carnegie was a smart business man unlike most industry’s during his time instead of buying the other companies out he would make his prices lower than another producer which would send them out of business. He helped out many by making colleges for individuals to attend and he gave back to his community by donating 56 million dollars to build libraries.
Once, there was a man to have the largest personal fortune in the world. He helped improve mankind by donating millions of his fortune to charity. This mastermind was named Andrew Carnegie, an industrial monopolizer who used steel to gain his massive fortune.
“To try to make the world in some way better than you found it is to have a noble motive in life.” This quote by Andrew Carnegie is a an accurate summary of the way Carnegie strived to live his life. Carnegie’s story began in Dunfermline, Scotland, in 1835, when he was born to lowly weaver Will Carnegie and his wife Margaret(“Andrew Carnegie: Pioneer.”). When Carnegie was thirteen years old, his family along with five-year-old Tom Carnegie, sold much of their belongings and sailed to America specifically Allegheny, PA. Will obtained ownership of a relative’s weaving shp after moving into the two rooms above it. Sadly, the business soon failed, puting the Carnegies in need of money once again(“Andrew Carnegie: Pioneer.”). Andrew soon joined
The Gilded Age was a great time for social change and economic growth. Between reconstruction and the dawn of the new century, the Gilded Age saw rapid industrialization, urbanized, railroads, technology, and the rise of big businesses. The nations were split into two halves that hated each other and nobody had enough money. The last three decades of the 19th century is called the Gilded Age which is one of the most dynamic periods in american history. During the Gilded Age america’s industry economy exploded generating opportunities for individuals but also leaving many farmers and workers struggling. Industrial leaders such as Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller revolutionized business and ushered in the modern corporate economy, but
Robber Baron's are the powerhouse of businesses in the United States. Were the big businesses and their owners captain of industry or robber baron, they were robber baron, more powerful and wealthy. The owners such as J.P. Morgan, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Rockefeller and more were robber baron. J.P. Became the first billionaire of the businesses.
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. He believed that if the wealthy don't give back some of their profits to the community, they are living a dishonorable life, and although I didn't necessarily agree with this radical viewpoint at first, I now am a firm believer in Carnegie's argument about wealth.
“The Men Who Built America DVD” begins immediately after the American Civil War. The United States was in a rebuilding stage and the future of the country seemed uncertain. During the next 35 years, there would be a group of men who would change the country and the world forever. These men would have power and wealth never before seen in the world and would direct the United States into the 20th century.
The American Dream is the belief that anything can be achieved through Hard Work and Determination. Its idolized by most all immigrants idolize this idea but almost all natural born Americans take this opportunity for granted. A prime example of a successful endeavor Is MLK. He fought for black rights and achieved it with persistence, even though he is no longer here his movements and actions will forever effect America. While he wasn’t an immigrant he still made, his dreams come true. I’m going to list some more examples of The American Dream from the past. John D Rockefeller was raised by his only Baptist Mother. He had 6 siblings raised along with him with only one parent. When he was