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Comparing Tale Of Wealth And The Gilded Age

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In the late nineteenth century, the United States witnessed a tremendous growth in wealth and corruption in government, which created great difference between the poor and the rich. Two American authors, “Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner, called this era of growth in prosperity and corruption The Gilded Age” (Roark Johnson, 518). During this period of time, the American economy was dominated by railroads, steel, and oil industries which were controlled by influential individuals, rather than the government. Having control over major industries only benefited the wealthy individuals, and worsen the conditions of those in lower classes. Due to the increase in competition, these industries corrupted the government and took over small businesses, …show more content…

Instead of wasting money on unnecessary objects or luxurious items, the rich should use it for public good. Carnegie was a “Scottish immigrant” (Roark 524) who worked hard to become an influential figure in the Industrial era where competition meant everything. Since Carnegie knew the value of hardship and money, he could relate to those who were victims of big private corporations. According to Carnegie, “whether the change be for good or ill, it is upon us, beyond our power to alter, and therefore, to be accepted and made the best of it” (Carnegie 53). Again, Carnegie here advices other wealthy individuals to wisely spend their money on public, even though many imperialist at the time did not agree with Carnegie. Carnegie’s sympathetic attitude towards the poor made him a hero in the eyes of many, and thus “before his death, he gave away more than $300 million most notably to public libraries” (Roark 524). Carnegie firmly believed that the condition of the poor can be improved if those in power helped them financially. Carnegie's this belief challenges the idea of social darwinism which states, “ societal progress came about as a result of relentless competition in which the strong survived and the weak died out” (Roark, 530). Although Carnegie had experienced poverty early in his life, he was still able to overcome poverty and become one of the wealthiest persons in the United States. He knew that in the long run, for the “survival of the fittest”, the weak do not necessarily have to fail if others decide to help them. To Carnegie, “a true gospel solves problems of both the rich and the

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In this composition, he addressed that the three ways for wealth to be distributed are give it to the family, use it for public service, or to administer it throughout the life of the possessor. (Wealth and Its Uses 31) He later goes on to explain that, “The only mode of producing lasting good by giving large sums of money is from the millionaire to give as close attention to its distribution during his life as he did to its acquisition” (Wealth and Its Uses 31). From all the uses that he listed, it is clear that he believed most strongly in giving large sums of money for the people. Carnegie used dedication and strategical thinking to build a fortune and use it to help others.

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Carnegie states that the problem with the administration of wealth is that it tears apart the rich and the poor in society, because the rich keep all their wealth to themselves; he says “…so that the ties of brotherhood may still bind together the rich and poor in harmonious relationship.” The law of competition, is that where no business man lets another man be more successful in their field, he states “…but the advantages of this law are also greater still, for it is to this law that we owe our wonderful material development, which brings improved conditions in its train.” “While the law may be sometimes hard for the individual, it is best for the race,…” There are three modes of surplus wealth disposal: Left to the families of the descendants, bequeathed for public purposes, and administered during their lives by its possessors. Carnegie claims that the ‘Duty of the Man of Wealth’ is the third mode of surplus disposal.

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“What if the proper mode of administering wealth after the laws (of survival of the fittest) upon which civilization have thrown it into the hands of the few?” (Doc. B - Andrew Carnegie) Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American, self-made entrepreneur who from the age of 24 was motivated and well to do. He was, from the start, always trying to find ways to make money. Finally, he found out a way to make steel that was stronger, more durable, and cheaper.

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907 Words | 4 Pages

Carnegie was without a doubt a beneficent man. Not having any desire to kick the bucket with a crazy measure of cash, Carnegie chose to help general society. He was exceptionally contributing individual from society and gave away as much cash conceivable. " There stays, then, just a single method of utilizing incredible fortunes; … The obligation of the man of riches (is to) set a case of unobtrusive … living … ; and … to consider every surplus income … as trust assets … to create the most useful consequences of the group - the man of riches in this way turning into the … operator for his poorer brethren, conveying to their administration his prevalent astuteness, experience, and capacity to direct; showing improvement over they would or could accomplish for themselves… " (Document 8) says Carnegie.

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355 Words | 2 Pages

The Gilded Age was an age of rapid economic growth. Railroads, factories, and mines were slowly popping up across the country, creating a variety of new opportunities for entrepreneurs and laborers alike. These new inventions and opportunities created “...an unprecedented accumulation of wealth” (GML, 601). But the transition of America from a small farming based nation to a powerful industrial one created a huge rift between social classes. Most people were either filthy rich or dirt poor, with workers being the latter.

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Although the concept of the rich supporting the lesser off is a beautiful one, it is a very unrealistic ideal. This would only be possible in a perfect world, one without greed. This is evident to this day as most billionaires turn their families into long lasting empires and some even die with their money collecting dust in the bank. It’s ironic because Carnegie is constantly attacking communism in order to advance his own viewpoints ( another ideal that would only work in a perfect world). Both concepts lack incentive, as for carnegies viewpoints, the incentive to be generous instead of hoarding riches like a dragon.

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In the Gospel of Wealth article, Carnegie argues that the best way on helping society was to help improve people themselves. Carnegie did not believe that the rich simply give the money directly towards the poor. Instead, he wanted to set up intuitions for the poor to allow people to help there self. According to Carnegie, “ [T]he main consideration should be to help those who will help themselves; to provide part of the means by which those who desire to improve may do so...” (Carnegie, 1889).

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The Philanthropy of Andrew Carnegie Made Him a Hero “Surplus wealth is a sacred trust which its possessor is bound to administer in his lifetime for the good of the community.” Andrew Carnegie believes that if you are fortunate enough to make a lot of money you should also be smart enough to give it back to your community and peers. Carnegie was a self-made man who was born in an attic of a little cottage in Scotland. When Carnegie was twelve he and his family packed up and moved to Pittsburgh.

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602 Words | 3 Pages

“Change their minds and change the world.” is a famous line told by Wonder Woman. A huge amount of people are inspired day by day by her because of her hard work and kind heart. Andrew Carnegie may not have saved the world nor fought in world wars in his lifetime but, like Wonder Woman, he sure was a hero. Andrew Carnegie grew up poor but aspired to become someone. Like Wonder Woman he worked hard and became someone important.

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907 Words | 4 Pages

The Gilded Age is mostly remember for the ‘boom’ in industrialism in the United States, industries such as the Oil and the Railroad ones grew in numbers and made many wealthy and some even part of history, but politics also had its role in this era. Politics during the Gilded Age (which lasted from 1870 to 1895) was something most of the United States citizen’s used as a “pastime,” a person could make a living out of politics due to corruption. During this era there were also many other factors that influenced other people to become aware of politics (which is what caused a raise in voter participation as high as 80% in 1876). Among the factors, influencing politics, the most important ones were: patronage, sectional loyalty, ethnicity, and

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711 Words | 3 Pages

Carnegie viewed philanthropy as critical for directing these inadequacies. He called on persons having the biggest fruits of the financial system to use their fortune to construct the best beneficial outcomes for the public. This would guarantee that all of humanity would gain, reducing dislikes that might eventually lead to replacement of a generous system of free originality with a little creative, one made on jealousy and

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Jessica HillisMr. GillardAP US History5 January 2007Essay 16: Gilded AgeThroughout history, certain periods of time have been given certain names based on thehappenings that occurred. Many have called the period of 1865 to 1901 the “Gilded Age”, be-cause it was “shiny and pretty” on the outside but it was “rough and ugly” underneath. The term“Gilded Age” was actually coined by Mark Twain who satired the Gilded Age with a GoldenAge.

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835 Words | 4 Pages

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.

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His desire to give back his earnings to American society was one that wasn’t forced on him by the people around him, but it was one that was instilled in him because of his personal beliefs and motives. Carnegie's desire to make education more accessible and develop the poorer sectors of the United States was a huge factor in his actions. A majority of his “extra” money was given back to the community and that is what made him such an influential philanthropist and an overall important figure in American history. If the people in society urged Carnegie to donate to various causes, this could have changed his perspective on the developing economic problem in society and possibly could have caused him to become not as dedicated to donating as he usually was. The values and actions of Carnegie

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454 Words | 2 Pages

Andrew Carnegie could have let his employees keep their wages and worry about donations later. Taking money away to invest it somewhere else is not helping, because the people

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