Andrew Carnegie 3

In the 19th century, America was significantly changed by a progressive movement which strived to gain an economic opportunity, religious morality, political honesty and social stability. The efforts of the famous progressives have shaped one of the most powerful nations in this world. The United States is ahead of most of other countries in the business world and continues to make the better products. Nevertheless, America wouldn’t be so economically strong without the contributions of Andrew Carnegie, the wealthy industrialist who showed the world a profitable and proper way to operate a business. Andrew Carnegie is the real reason why American business and economy had become so dominant in the 20th century.

Carnegie was born in November 25, 1835 in Dunfermline, Scotland. His parents were handloom weavers who barely had enough money for food. Carnegies were radicals who never feared to demonstrate for their rights. Andrew’s father, Will, was a follower of Chartism, a popular movement of the British working class that called for the masses to vote and to run for Parliament in order to help improve conditions for workers. Such exposure to political beliefs made a lasting expression on young Andrew Carnegie and played a significant role in his life. By 1835, the invention of the Cotton Gin and the development of power looms meant that the days of the handloom weaver were numbered. Finally, in 1847 a large steam power weaving factory opened in Dunfermline ending the handloom weaving business for good. Carnegie family was out of work and decided to immigrate to the United States in search of better life. They came to the United States in 1848 and settled in Allegheny, Pennsylvania. Andrew was only twelve years old but already envisioned glorious promises for himself in the New World. He started work at the age of 13 as a bobbin boy in local textile mill and made $1.20 a week. He then moved rapidly through a succession of jobs with Western Union and the Pennsylvania Railroad. In 1865, he established his own business enterprises and eventually organized the Carnegie Steel Company, which launched the steel industry in Pittsburgh. At age sixty-five, he sold his company to J.P. Morgan and devoted the rest of his life to his philanthropic activities and writing.

Carnegie argued that hard work was the main reason a person could succeed in anythi...

... middle of paper ...

...on to be ignorance and thought that building libraries would help to solve that problem. Andrew Carnegie financed 2, 811 libraries and other educating institutions such as colleges and universities. He only wanted to help those people who could help themselves. Libraries were the main gifts Carnegie gave to our nation.

After Carnegie retired from business, he also got involved in world politics. His two main wishes were to abolish the British monarchy and make it adopt the American system, and promote peace throughout the world. Carnegie wrote various articles and books and soon became an “unofficial diplomat'; in the cause of reducing differences and promoting peace. He thought that countries had to resolve their differences by nonviolent methods. Carnegie was one of the first to call for “League of Nations';. In 1900, he donated $1,500,000 to build Palace of Peace which serves today at International Court of Justice, an arm of the United Nations. In 1910, he set up an Endowment for International Peace to stop all the war conflicts in the world. Business, education and world peace all progressed thanks to the hard work and well earned money of Andrew Carnegie.