Despite the images of wealth and grandeur conjured by the name of Andrew Carnegie today, the man came from very humble beginnings. Born November 25, 1835, in Dunfermline, Scotland, Carnegie spent his childhood in poverty, working to bring in additional income just so his family could survive. In 1848, the family made the voyage across the Atlantic in search of a better life and better opportunity, which the astute Carnegie would soon find and take great advantage of, but first they had to get there. The family was so impoverished that they had to borrow money just to make the trip.
The Carnegie’s eventually ended up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Tired of seeing his family struggle, Carnegie, at the age of 13, sought out work in their new city.
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The Civil War created an increase in demand, and therefore price, of iron products. Carnegie saw an opportunity and left the railroad for the emerging steel industry. He began a company with some investors, including Scott of the Pennsylvania Railroad, building iron bridges to replace the old wooden models. This eventually developed into the Keystone Bridge Company. Keystone Bridge Company also built bridges but Carnegie expanded into making the iron pieces as well. From here, Carnegie rapidly built his ironworks …show more content…
It was the largest, featured the most sophisticated equipment, and could produce the widest range of product. Not only was this an important mill for the Carnegie Company, it was also the most important and sophisticated across the entire nation, even supplying iron slabs for the creation of the United States Navy’s vessels. In short, the product of the Homestead Steel Works was an important factor for many different people. In the coming years, this would prove to be a useful factor for the workers there, as well as problem for the growing steel