Was Andrew Carnegie a hero? When you think of the name Andrew Carnegie, does the words hero, or non-heroic come after it? Industrialization is growing cities and population, and making factories to mass produce. Andrew Carnegie is a man who went from rags to riches on his own and become #1 in mass producing steel. Andrew Carnegie was not a hero because he lacked integrity and concern for others because he lied about his competitors, and only cared about money. Carnegie may have had success but that doesn't make him a hero. Andrew Carnegie did not display heroic qualities because he was a dishonest man who had no concern for others seeing as he done his competitors dirty and treated his workers terribly. “Carnegie sent out a circular (notice) …show more content…
Andrew Carnegie in September 1875 production cost was pretty high but his selling price was way higher, in January 1877 he lowered his production cost by a lot and the selling price went down as well but it was still fairly higher than what he was making the steel for,and in November 1977 Carnegie was able to lower his production costs even more as well as his selling price which was a bit more than what he spent making the steel. (Doc D). The main idea of this chart is to show that over the period of September to November Carnegie was able to drop his prices and costs significantly but that doesn't make him heroic. That just means he found new methods, material, or cut the cost of labor, this is just Carnegie being a good businessman. Steel production in the United States was very small compared the Great Britain in 1870, ten years later in 1880 the US’s production launched and was just right under Great Britain, another ten years later in 1890 the US finally passed GB in production but but by very much, ten years after that in 1900 Andrew Carnegie’s mills was making one-third of all the steel in the US making the steel production to skyrocket still in the lead at #1 with Germany and Luxembourg no where near and then in 3rd was Great Britain a little bit close to GL (Doc E). This chart is just to show the production of steel in the United States comparing with other countries over the span of 1870-1900 and to see how Carnegie’s mills effected the US production. This chart does not show Carnegie as a hero just how well his factory productions was going. Overall Andrew Carnegie was very good at being a businessman because he had a lot of financial success with lowering his production costs but that's not very heroic of him, it’s really only doing him good because he's saving
Andrew Carnegie, the monopolist of the steel industry, was one of the worst of the Robber Barons. Like the others, he was full of contradictions and tried to bring peace to the world, but only caused conflicts and took away the jobs of many factory workers. Carnegie Steel, his company, was a main supplier of steel to the railroad industry.
Who would imagine, George C. Wallace an American hero. Strong, courageous, noble and thoughtful are a few words used to describe a hero. Merriam-Webster (2014) dictionary defines a hero as a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities. Among several historical and controversial leaders, George Wallace and Gilgamesh are considered great heroes. However through their individual journeys they both learned how to humble themselves for the greater good of their society.
Known for his contributions he devotes his earnings to making America a better place for all to live. However, he is very strict on how these contributions should be made. He believes all disruption should be made when the millionaire is alive. That after the millionaires death his contribution does nothing to benefit the society. “The miser millionaire who hoards his wealth does less injury to society than the careless millionaire who squanders his unwisely, even if he does so under cover of the mantle of sacred charity,” (p. 32) In some degree I agree with him. What does it say when contribution is made after someone death? Personally, it says that the cause wasn't important enough and now that the millionaires dead, they try to make it seem like they care and still keep their name on the radar by donating to society. Carnegie saw wealth as something that a person had to work for, and as a constant battle to maintain. Carnegie came from a poor family and worked hard to achieve his wealth.I began to learn what poverty meant," Andrew would later write. "It was burnt into my heart then that my father had to beg for work. And then and there came the resolve that I would cure that when I got to be a man." Also he said that he felt that he was given an opportunity when he was young and felt it was his duty to give others the means to be successful as well. This is important to Carnegie as someone who does come from struggling background; he doesn’t want to see the inequalities that are created in America due to a number of many factors. He wants to see society as a whole
If you watch modern movies you will find that these times it is quite easier to be a hero than it was fifty years ago. The world gives us multiple opportunities to proves ourselves and give us the self-satisfaction of being able to say you are a hero. But what is a hero? Grant says, “A hero is someone who does something for other people. He does something that other men don’t and can’t do. He is different from other men. He is above other men. No matter who those other men are, the hero, no matter who he is, is above them.” (193) Obviously Grant matches his own description of a hero. He proved himself a hero by counseling Jefferson while being a teacher with “more than enough” problems of his own.
Andrew Carnegie and his philanthropy made him a hero because he helped more people than harm in the long run, by this I mean he helped other countries. He also sets a great example to everyone that helping others or someone is not something you need to wait to do when you are no longer living. If someone needed help and even a stable person had the choice to help but until they are no longer alive has little meaning. Perhaps it would be too late when the person isn’t around anymore. Its about what someone can do to help when they are around, it is about what a person can do in the time of need even if it is not much but a little of anything can go a long way. In (Doc C) there is a list of amounts of money that Carnegie has donated to various places which in total he has donated well over $271m but aside from that his corporation is giving out about $100m a year, most of it to education (Doc C)
Financial success, intelligence, and concern for others are some traits that make Andrew Carnegie a unique hero. Although Andrew Carnegie later on lost public support on his ideas, his appearence of a “hero” to Americans remains because of his impact in “improving the humankind”. Andrew Carnegie and heroism are important today because of his selfless humanity towards the world and business
Carnegie joined Thomas Scott during the civil war and developed a military graphing system. After this he advanced from telegraphy going through railroading and bridge building until he found himself in steelmaking, where he would make his profit. Due to his practical and ambitious ways, Carnegie wanted to dominate the steel industry, leading him to be tyrannical and a dishonest. Carnegie’s talent lied within promoting and selling steel rather than the technical part of steelmaking. Much like Rockefeller, Carnegie was also philanthropic because he gave much of his money away to build libraries, hospitals, parks, etc.
In the early 1870s Andrew Carnegie became the largest steel producer in the nation and one of the richest men in America. According to lecture 3, Andrew Carnegie had few regulations, which made him a wealthy and dominant force in the U.S. Carnegie’s steel mill was located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Carnegie’s steel worker made to work in a dangerous and a poor work environment. The working conditions at the steel mill were so dangerous that it was likely they would lose their life. Carnegie forces his worker to work a twelve-hour workday. The steel workers wanted to work in a better work environment; they organized a steel worker’s union.
Throughout Carnegies life he struggled to find a balance between two ideals; to make money, and to stand up for the working man. He obviously leaned more towards making money than he did working for labor rights, but Carnegie’s contributions to his community, the United States, and the world can not be understated.
Known as the “King of Steel”, Andrew Carnegie was the benevolent employer and is considered one the most influential people of the second industrial revolution. There has been great debate about his true character. Some consider him a tyrant; one who was only concerned about his advancement of ideas. On the other hand, another group sees him as a generous educator. There is evidence that points to both sides; however, the best way to see him is as a combination of both. Nevertheless, there is no debate on his impact in the industry.
...the plethora of things named after him, including the dinosaur Diplodocus Carnegii, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, cities named “Carnegie” in both Pennsylvania and Oklahoma, the saguaro (Carnegia) cactus, the Carnegie Medal for children's UK literature, and Carnegie Hall in New York. People continue to benefit from his actions to this day, and will no doubt continue to benefit for generations to come.
A man of Scotland, a distinguished man citizen of the United States, and now a philanthropist devoted to the making the world around him a better place, Andrew Carnegie became famous at the turn of the twentieth century and became true rags to riches story.
...ho have the courage to stand up and solve today’s issues. Hero’s are not uncommon and they can be found anywhere. A hero can’t be determined by the size of their act, but the taught behind it. Small acts that go unnoticed to changing history as we know it are all considered heroic acts in my eyes and they inspire me every day.
Andrew Carnegie is known as the man who was born in the poorest living conditions but died one of the richest men in the world. He was renown for his judgment of character and business opportunities. He is most widely recognized for providing the capital and opportunity for an innovation that would make steel stronger and more affordable. Andrew Carnegie is a major driving force behind the industrialization of American and the impact that he had can still be seen today across Pennsylvania and the World.
You also don’t have to kill anyone, conquer foreign land, or risk your life to be a hero. Anyone who influences anyone else by saving or helping save his or her lives is a hero. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. changed the lives of millions of people by bringing justice to minorities. Mahatma Gandhi, one of the greatest heroes, led a nonviolent revolution to free his country.