How Did Andrew Carnegie Contribute To The American Dream

Andrew Carnegie once said, “No man can become rich without himself enriching others” (Crazy Billionaires Speak: Motivational Quotes by Billionaires on Success, Business and Life 9). Many people associate Andrew Carnegie with his contributions to the economic world during his lifetime and future generations. However, he was also an inspiration to all, because he proved that a person living in tough times could ultimately strive and attain his/her utmost success. Additionally, Carnegie is the embodiment of the American Dream, because he is known as one of the greatest industrialists of his time who grew economically from rags to riches. He strived to achieve world peace and inspired others to follow his footsteps. Even more so, he was able to

at the time. For example, a nationwide business slump occurred in the U.S. between 1873 to 1879 and recurred in 1883. Carnegie’s capability of maintaining and expanding his steel company, even throughout the slump, demonstrated his perseverance in revolutionizing steel production (Encyclopedia Britannica 242). Carnegie was able to extend his “facilities inexpensively” (Encyclopedia Britannica 242) during economic decline and, thus, encounter the high demands for steel in the years of economic growth. Another example is the Homestead Strike of 1892. The Homestead Strike was a strike initiated by steelworkers who were given a wage cut at Carnegie’s Homestead plant. While Carnegie was out of town, Henry Clay Frick, chairman of the firm and one of Carnegie's allies, refused to come to an agreement with union leaders to increase their salary. As a result, Frick stationed guards to fight off the strikers from attacking innocent workers. The strike ended in failure because guards killed strikers, Pennsylvania’s militia reopened the plant, the union fell apart, and the strikers went back to work (Encyclopedia Britannica 242). The Homestead Strike was one of many cases that some felt that the success of Carnegie’s company came at the “expense of its workers” ("Andrew Carnegie" 2). Carnegie’s involvement in this event was questioned since he was a supporter of labor unions and workers’ rights (Encyclopedia Britannica 242). Carnegie contradicted

He strongly disbelieved in a policy that claimed, a country’s power can be extended through diplomacy or military force. Yet, he didn’t believe in Socialism either. He was also a “fellow workman” (Nasaw 340). Not only was he a landlord, but he was an active partner and worker in the steel mill. He always treated his workers no much less than he would treat himself since he was in their position when he was younger. Additionally, Carnegie teaches us important life lessons from his past experiences. For instance, he believes that if a man works constantly, he will not “win the race” (Nasaw 341). Rather, the man that will rise to higher positions is the man that manages and spends his time wisely by working and having fun at the same time (Nasaw 341). Carnegie took on himself the task of educating the public on economic matters. Carnegie argued that the two standard values (Silver and Gold) used in “civilized countries” would ruin the prosperity of the nation because silver is worth less than gold. Therefore, people, companies, and nations would take advantage of them and pay their workers with the cheaper currency, which would result in lower wages and rebellion (Nasaw 345). Furthermore, the “protection of the gold standard” (Nasaw 345) was more important to him than was the protective tariff. This argument comes to show us how much he felt for his workers and wanted to pay them fairly. He agrees that there is an unequal distribution of