Abstract The paper examines Andrew Carnegie's early life, detailing his rise from bobbin boy in a cotton mill to wealthy industrialist. The paper explains that Carnegie's interest in philanthropy began in 1870, at the age of thirty-five, but that he first publicly set forth his concept of what he termed "scientific philanthropy" in an 1889 essay entitled "Wealth", which succinctly stated his thesis that "The problem of our age is the administration of wealth." The paper shows that reaction to Carnegie's ideas was mixed, and cites examples both from those in favor and those opposed. It shows how Carnegie applied his principles in funding libraries and then moved on to develop the modern philanthropic foundation and organize the business of philanthropy at the turn of the century. The paper discusses his competition with John D. Rockefeller to see who could give the most. The paper analyzes the long-term changes that Carnegie's philanthropy brought about in American culture and society. In conclusion, the writer feels that Carnegie's example is one that should be followed by other persons of great wealth, since prudent and judicious distribution of private wealth is the only way that the free enterprise system can hope to survive for more than a short term in a historical time frame.
Table of Contents:
Early Life
Carnegie the Philanthropist
Competitive Philanthropy
The Carnegie Legacy
Bibliography
From the Paper "Carnegie's ideas about the distribution of his vast wealth drew criticism at the time he began his philanthropic activity. However, his ideas are sound and, in retrospect, most of the criticism can be observed to come from those who either did not receive the extent of support that they sought or objected to the restrictions and qualifications placed upon them as beneficiaries. However, he was true to his own ideals. He had ample reason for making the provisions he did, and they have held up to public scrutiny and examination after the fact. Libraries are an acknowledged necessity in today's world, and it is difficult to imagine what the world would be without them. Certainly, they have served as an aid and an impetus to education to the entire population. It may have been a small beginning, considering the extent of his fortune, but it was characteristic of Carnegie to act in ways that are well thought out and methodical. Libraries were his first endeavor, but he never meant them to be his last."
Abstract This paper details the life of one of the most influential businessmen in U.S. history, Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie's legacy includes many philanthropic endowments which set the tone for his day, but he is also remembered as being one of the greatest robber barons of his day who controlled the giant steel industry. According to this author, Carnegie was an complex individual, who vocally supported unions in public, but in private did everything in his power to stem their power in his many different factories. It is ironic that, in the late 1800s, the first union in America was formed in one of Carnegie's plants and his actions would lead to one of the most violent strikes in history. The resolution of this strike was the reason the introduction of government regulations involving collective bargaining arrangements in labor disputes that still exist today. The author cites several examples where Carnegie's actions did not match his deeds and only served to fuel the fires of discontent among the union members. The author also discusses how despite the fact that many businessmen, like Carnegie supported the concept of monopolies, by the beginning of the twentieth century, things had begun to change.
According to this author, the unions were drawing attention to the worker's needs and rights and as a result, the government began to develop new regulations for businesses which lead to the eventual demise of monopolies. The author concludes with several comments about how Carnegie eventually came to publically acknowledge that the labor unions and shared wealth were a better option for the country.
From the Paper "Carnegie had created his business empire upon the simple concept that a monopoly is, for the monopolist, the most efficient way to do business. Without competition, the owner can create the most efficient production and delivery system he can without wasting time and money negotiating and competing with others. This was the precept of Carnegie and those like him ? the nation is better off with monopolies. But, the workers, the masses of thousands and millions who filled the factories and mined the ore, who broke their backs and their families for virtually no money, these were the people who brought the reality of the monopoly to the attention of the government. It was the union, and its ability to bring a large voice in the form of unification that could speak as loud as that of the one person at the head of the company. Unions, then, brought about an equalization."
This paper is a chapter by chapter review of Harold Livesay's biography "Andrew Carnegie and the Rise of Big Business", which traces Carnegie's rise to become the first billionaire of the twentieth century.
Abstract This paper explains that Harold Livesay's "Andrew Carnegie and the Rise of Big Business" thoughtfully traces Carnegie's life from his impoverished immigrant childhood through his ruthless business career, to his becoming the wealthiest man in the world and a noted philanthropist. The author points out that the reader learns of Carnegie's alliance with Rockefeller, Carnegie's massive contribution to the success of the steel industry and his final triumph over his competitors and rivals. The paper presents Carnegie as being hard working, daring, forceful with the ability to master the details of a business very quickly, to make decisions and follow through and to pick gifted associates who reflected his style of management.
From the Paper "The following chapters (two through five) of Livesay's book delineate Carnegie's apprenticeships, first as a manager, then as a financier, before becoming a "master moneyman." In his early teens, Carnegie worked menial jobs, but was bright and an avid learner, so at the age of seventeen, Tom Scott of the Pennsylvania Railroad hired him as a personal telegrapher and secretary. Carnegie was soon was awarded with greater and greater responsibilities, and by the time he was twenty, he was helping Scott perfect the complicated cost accounting system that Scott devised."
Abstract This paper explains that Andrew Carnegie is remembered for two main achievements: The enormous amounts of money he amassed as an industrialist and his giving most of his money away to charity. The author points out that, if Andrew Carnegie had not lived in poverty in the early years of his life, he may not have been so very interested in giving away his money to other people or, if he had not been interested in the written word, he may not have given millions away to public libraries and for free education. The paper stresses Andrew Carnegie's strong contention that giving away one's wealth for the common good was as important as making the wealth in the first place, the giving away must be done personally and it must be done in the right manner.
From the Paper "It must be noted that Andrew Carnegie considered education as being the veritable 'key' to life, and he was also extremely interested and also committed to the cause of an access to information. It is said that one incident in particular alerted Andrew Carnegie to this important fact, in the libraries of Colonel Anderson in Allegheny City, an incident that seems to have motivated him into donating enormous amounts of funds to the cause of library building all over the United States of America. As a matter of fact, over the doors of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, are carved the words, 'Free to the People', and this shows the spirit and the thoughts of the man."
The following paper discusses the biography of Andrew Carnegie, an entrepreneur and founder of the American steel Industry, his life, the major influences and significance of his work and the impact of his life on others.
Abstract Andrew Carnegie helped build the formidable American steel industry and then sold his steel business and systematically gave his collected fortune away to cultural, educational and scientific institutions for "the improvement of mankind." This paper examines the way in which Carnegie, who was one of the first industrialists to use scientists to research his own business, came to be the wealthiest man of his time, in the world.
From the Paper "During his final years, Carnegie spent most of his time in endeavors to promote world peace. He built both the Pan American Union building in Washington D.C. and the Hague Peace Palace, in the Netherlands to support international peace. The outbreak of World War I was devastating to him, and he died August 11, 1919 in Lenox, Massachusetts. By the time he died, Carnegie had given away $350,695,653 and had given another $30,000,000 to foundations, pensions and charities. Andrew Carnegie is considered one of the greatest philanthropists in the world and one of the wealthiest men who ever lived (http://www.carnegie.lib.oh.us/andrewcarnegie.htm)."
Tags: foundations, pensions, charities, philanthropists, wealthiest, industrial, military
Abstract A nineteen-page essay on the development of libraries in the late nineteenth century and the impact of the money and philosophy of Andrew Carnegie.
Abstract This paper discusses the concept of social Darwinism. It specifically discusses the philosophies of social Darwinism theorists, Herbert Spencer and Andrew Carnegie with regard to their views of social Darwinism. The paper details each of their theories and then compares them, particularly with regard to how they view the amassing of wealth.
From the Paper "Carnegie stresses that the Gospel of Wealth is one that makes the amasser of such wealth completely and totally responsible for what he has created. After minimal accommodations to ensure that your most unprotected descendants are supported through your life and death, where he stresses helping wives and daughters the most and giving little if any nominal support to sons, who hold the social responsibility and ability of creating their own wealth in life and are often simply corrupted by freely given inheritance, the cream of the crop must dispense his surplus wealth himself, while he lives, on good works. The best possible social action of the successful Social Darwinist is to give what you have amassed through the wisdom that you have gained building said fortune. Spencer and Carnegie do not outright disagree, in the natural order determining the success and progress of man in these two works yet, Carnegie caries the idea to an extreme, making it the responsibility of those who have risen to the top to offer such opportunities to the new generation of people, who through natural selection will succeed the present. (Carnegie, 1889) (Spencer, 1857)"
Abstract The paper assesses Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People" which was first published in 1936. The author of the paper shows that although it may be hard to imagine that a book written so many years ago is still relevant today, it's clear why this book has stood the test of time: The basic, down-to-earth techniques for dealing with people (for example, "Don't criticize, condemn or complain"; "Give honest and sincere appreciation") still work today. The paper shows how Carnegie shows he has a true understanding of human nature, how to make people like you, and how to deal with them so you can be an effective leader and that those types of skills are never outdated.
From the Paper "In some parts of the book it's very obvious that it was written many years ago. Some of the stories Carnegie tells to illustrate his points seem a bit outdated, and I'm not sure the things he said would work today, although the basic idea is still valid. For instance, Chapter 6 is "How to Make People Like You Instantly." In this chapter he tells the story of going to the post office and wanting to say something to the postal clerk that will make the clerk like him. Because the clerk seems to have a very tedious job, as well as one that doesn't seem to require specialized skills, Carnegie chooses not to build up the clerk by commenting on how well he does his job. Instead, he tells the clerk, "I certainly wish I had your head of hair." In today's society, that sort of comment might be misconstrued and taken the wrong way. "
Abstract This paper discusses the influences of big industrialists such as Rockefeller, Carnegie, and other big bosses of the trust that led to the creation of the United States Federal Reserve Bank (also known as the Fed). The paper then further discusses their role in the creation of the Fed in the early 1900s. It particularly discusses how their influence resulted in their financial power on the corporate, governmental and institutional level in the United States, as well as on a global basis.
Table of Contents:
Objective
Introduction
I. The Panic Of 1907
II. Jekyll Island
III. Rockefeller's Role In The Creation Of The Fed
IV. Carnegie's Role In The Creation Of The Fed
Summary And Conclusion
From the Paper "It is clear that Carnegie and Rockefeller money was invested in the motivating and directing forces of the establishment of the Federal Reserve System. The discovery made in the research of this subject leads to the discovery of some very sinister political ties which existed between these two named wielders of financial power on the corporate, governmental and institutional level in the United States as well as on a global basis. This power moves throughout the entire scheme of history and continues to move in today's world events. The New Standard Encyclopedia states of the Federal Reserve System that: "After World War I, the Federal Reserve System followed various policies designed to increase the supply of bank credit. It was believed that the economic growth of the country required such measures, but some authorities now think that these policies contributed to the 1928 stock market boom and collapse." (New Standard Encyclopedia, Vol. 3 Chicago Press, 1984) Certainly the Carnegie and Rockefeller Foundations are both still active in today's world through the many funding programs of each which leads one to further considerations in study in pursuit of obtaining knowledge of the powers that have shaped the historical development of the United States government and policies."
Abstract This paper is an evaluation of the legendary 'Robber Barons,' the American capitalists of the late 1800s, and their short and long-term impact on American society. The paper looks at men like Carnegie, Rockefeller and Gould and tries to determine whether they were good or evil men. The author looks at whether their actions caused permanent harm to America, or whether they helped to build the powerful industrial state we live in today.
From the Paper "Finally, if these men were truly ?robber barons,? I do not think they would have disposed of such vast amounts of their "stolen" wealth in positive ways through philanthropy. One cannot ignore the endowments and gifts that some of the early capitalists made that continue to benefit many in the world to this day. Carnegie gave away over $350 million for a large variety of projects, almost all of his wealth, before he died. Rockefeller unleashed $550 million, focusing on medical research that resulted in a treatment for meningitis and a vaccine for Yellow Fever. Both men gave freely to educational endeavors. Josephson touches on this in discussing the generosity of the robber barons, but calls the many millions given (billions in today's money) as attempts to "extend their sway over the social order" and to control higher education and the freedom of expression (324-325). The fact that a fair number of these men did attempt at times to help their fellow man with their riches, led religious and moral personal lives outside of their businesses, and rose from the same poor stock as the rest of their countrymen needs to be taken into account, and Josephson's bitter dismissal of their philanthropy ignores the simple fact that more good came from this generosity than bad."
Abstract A description of America from 1880-1889 during which the country experienced numerous advancements in all fields. It mentions how the Statue of Liberty was erected and tycoons like Rockefeller and Carnegie became the kings of America. It discusses how the Metropolitan Opera house was opened which brought in a new world of art and culture. Great men such as Thomas Edison were lighting up Wall Street in New York City, while outlaws like Jesse James and Billy the Kid were terrorizing the west!
From the Paper "Imagine walking down a cobble-stoned street on a comfortably cool autumn afternoon. Everyone is dressed so exquisitely, all in the latest fashion. The women are wearing long, flowing dresses, trimmed with lace and the finest materials. Atop their heads lye bonnets decorated with the most glorious flowers ever to have sprung. The men are dressed in 3-piece suits, top hats, the shiniest black shoes, and of course, a walking cane. Everyone is riding in horse-drawn carriages, headed to see a revolutionary accomplishment by a Mr. Thomas Edison. He has managed to actually have electrical lights working on Wall Street, New York City. What a fascinating time to be alive! All the wonders that one would be experiencing! From entertainment and fashion, to politics and business, the 1880's were a captivating time to experience life and enjoy every new, exciting day!"
Tags: 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887, 1888, 1889, 19th, annie, bands, billy, carnegie, century, city, dixieland, earth, edison, haymarket, house, twain, york
Abstract This study will compare and contrast the American authors Benjamin Franklin and Dale Carnegie from a biographical standpoint. The study will take the position that literature is the expression of a unique individual and can best be understood through a study of the author's life, the physical and emotional circumstances under which the work was written.
From the Paper "This study will compare and contrast the American authors Benjamin Franklin and Dale Carnegie from a biographical standpoint. The study will take the position that literature is the expression of a unique individual and can best be understood through a study of the author's life, the physical and emotional circumstances under which the work was written. In the case of Franklin and Carnegie, this biographical context proves most helpful in understanding their written works.
Both Franklin and Carnegie wrote their most important works at crucial periods in the evolution of the nation, and one can argue with reason that those works were shaped by their times. Specifically, Franklin wrote at the beginning of the experiment of nationhood, and his work reflects those dynamic, confident and experimental times. Carnegie, on the other hand, was heavily ..."
Scottish immigrant Andrew Carnegie took advantage of the synergistic relationship between the nascent steel and rail industries to build an empire, besting along the way fellow business giants Rockefeller and Morgan.
1,800 words (approx. 7.2 pages), 6 sources, 1990, $ 63.95
From the Paper Introduction
"The development of the railroads was a key element in the expansion of the United States and in the economic well-being of the nation during the nineteenth century and into the twentieth century. The railroad was a transportation and communication marvel compared to anything that had existed previously. It crossed the territories of the nation and made it possible to travel from one end of the country to the other or to send mail and goods along the same routes. The development of the railroads was itself a matter of business expansion on a grand scale, starting with small lines and ending with vast networks of tracks which nurtured cities and towns all along their length. In terms of business history, the development of the railroads was not only the first big business venture in America but also..."
From the Paper "This study will examine the life of Andrew Carnegie, concentrating on his early life and how he rose to power.
The first obvious conclusion to be drawn from the life of Andrew Carnegie is that he was a man of monumental contradictions.
For example, an article in the North American Review of June, 1889, entitled "The Gospel of Wealth," written by Carnegie himself, praised "the concentration of business, industrial and commercial, in the hands of the few, and the law of competition between these, as being not only beneficial, but essential to the progress of the race" . This declaration in praise of cut-throat capitalism and economic inequality seems to befit a man "whose industrial empire, which was soon to be recapitalized at 320 million ... "
Abstract The paper explains that the term, "Robber Baron," was first used in America in about 1878 to refer to any American capitalist during the late 19th century who became wealthy through the exploitation of various sources, such as natural resources, governmental influence, or by paying low wages for work performed. The author points out that these "Robber Barons", namely, Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Cornelius Vanderbilt, and Henry Ford, were owners and managers of colossal capital and ultimately made themselves and America rich. The paper relates that they all possessed: (1) the true American trait of "rugged individualism"; (2) an overpowering need to acquire material things as a result of their upbringing, which mostly occurred in poverty; (3) subscribed to some type of commonly accepted philosophy, which aided them in (4) understanding the forces at work during their lifetimes; and (5) how to utilize these forces to their own and best advantage.
From the Paper "On January 10, 1870, Rockefeller incorporated the Standard Oil Company of Ohio and then sought to end the refining competition in Cleveland by forcing them either to join him or be eliminated. He also initiated a number of changes, a few being that the railroads must make more favorable "rebate" arrangements with Standard and refuse to export crude oil, due to Standard's plan to become the world's biggest exporter of crude oil. Thus, Rockefeller created the world's greatest oil refinery and literally wiped out all of his competition within the span of several years."
