Carnegie’s True Intentions
Andrew Carnegie was an immigrant from Scotland that used the Bessemer’s process to change the steel industry and became one of the richest entrepreneurs during his time. He was crucial during this time because he helped build the steel industry. Steel was stronger and could be used to build taller structures such as skyscrapers. Carnegie’s success was a result of his hard work and dedication. He became an inspiration for others because his romantic story showed that hard work will eventually pay off. Nonetheless, he was labeled as both a Robber Baron and a Captain of Industry. A Captain of Industry was a person who made a positive impact on the community with their fortune. In one of his biographies, it says, “Fond of saying that “the man who dies rich dies disgraced,” Carnegie then turned his attention to giving away his fortune. He abhorred charity and instead put his money to use helping others help themselves.” He established over 2,500 public libraries and supported institutions of education. He was a philanthropist, but he was a wise one and didn’t
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This led to people labeling him as both a Robber Baron and Captain of Industry. Can we really define who Andrew Carnegie is through his actions? It implies that he has two faces and acts as both, but there is a deeper part of Andrew Carnegie only he himself would know about. What caused him to treat the steel workers badly? Something in his past must have triggered him to be the person he turned out to be. He could have been jealous of them because they had jobs when his father did not. Maybe he related more with the poor because he knows what it felt like to be at the bottom. Either way, he may be labeled as both a Captain of Industry and a Robber Baron, but that certainly doesn’t define who Andrew Carnegie