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Summary Of Andrew Carnegie And The Rise Of Big Business

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The country that is known for being the land of opportunity, freedom, innovation, or even a fresh start. Whatever comes up in people’s minds, you know that they are thinking about the wonderful United States of America. Where Europeans came looking for religious freedom, economic opportunities and political liberty; gaining novelties in life. Between the 100 year time frame of 1815-1915, an estimated 30 million Europeans took a prolonged voyage to America, seeking for a better life. One notable individual who was a product of one of the millions of Europeans who immigrated to the United States was Andrew Carnegie.The autobiography “Andrew Carnegie and The Rise Of Big Business,” written by Harold C. Liveway, tells the life story of a poor thirteen …show more content…

The belief that anyone can rise above his origins [...] and through hard work, honesty and thrift achieve positions of power and influence.” Meaning anyone can achieve this goal, but it takes countless effort and even struggle to reach. Livay mentions how the ideologies of the American dream circulated around Europe. Pilgrims and ex-convicts would set forth to the new world seeking opportunity as it was scarce in their homeland.The author views Carnegie’s life from poor Scottish immigrant to a phenomenal industrial idol as an example. Andrew Carnegie was born in 1835 in Dunfermline, Scotland. The town’s main industry was the weaving of linen. He had a good upbringing growing up and came from a family who prioritized education. The young Carnegie was exposed to egalitarian political ideas, who’s father and uncle advocated the People’s Charter and other prominent reform groups. During the 1830’s, Carnegie’s father had a successful career as a weaver, however a downfall occurred (Industrial Revolution). Industrialization is prosperous as it increases Britain's national income, and the fast growth changes the English social …show more content…

Tom Scott falls into financial trouble, where Carnegie endorses the loans and the Texas Pacific railroad goes bankrupt, causing him to lose his friendship with Scott. Carnegie spent 17 years in steelworks and he totally transferred, inspiring others in the field. Andrew Carnegie finds himself in difficult and complicated relationships with laborers and unions. He expressed how cost cutting would leave him with the choice of cutting workers' wages. “Low wages does not always imply cheap labor” (Pg.145) one man quoted who was affiliated with Carnegie. Carnegie factory superintendent, Captain Bill Jones, convinces Carnegie to support progressive labor policies. A man himself who knows the terrible feeling of overlooked labor decides to do so. In 1888, Carnegie joined the major strike movement. Throughout his career, Carnegie was always ninety percent of the time to join forces on fair treatment and worker conditions. In conclusion, Andrew Carnegie was an innovative genius. From a poor Scottish immigrant to one of America’s wealthiest men. His personal life struggles to reach the top. Throughout his career, he stayed committed to policies, giving the absolute

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Andrew Carnegie is a steel plant owner who claims to support unions and the working man. His charge is that he ignored the legitimate grievances of his employees at his plant in Homestead Pennsylvania and that his neglect contributed to the death of several of his employees during a strike at Homestead in June of 1892 and that he should be held accountable. Andrew Carnegie has dealt with strikes at his plants before. One strike was at his plant in Braddock Pennsylvania where he settled with the workers by agreeing to higher pay but without input from the Union, essentially ruining it. The union at Homestead was one of the last unions in any of his plants.

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Andrew Carnegie Andrew Carnegie’s was one of the most successful businessmen during America’s Age of Industrialization in the 1880’s. After the Civil War, he saw a future in having a career in the iron industry, and later on, decided to invest in the steel industry (PBS). Though Carnegie is most known for his contribution in the steel industry, he took part in a few other businesses as well. However, the Gilded Age is an era full of poverty and corruption hidden underneath the prosperous, wealthy nation, and the working conditions within Carnegie Steel Company were not much better than those in other factories (Resetar).

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