Andrew was an immigrant from Scotland in 1848 - the year when the Mexican-American War ended. This first picture shows him at 16 (with his kid brother on the left) when he got a job that would be the beginning of his rise to one of the richest men in the world. He worked as a messenger for a telegraph company. By the time of the Civil War he was in his late 20s and was already getting rich by investing his earnings into railroad companies.
We see Andy here at 43 (1878) just before he would get really rich entering a new industry in what would be known as the Gilded Age. He took all this money and created the Carnegie Steel Co. one of many companies that were producing steel in the US. He was able to cut out his competitors by buying all related companies that were needed to create steel and was able to sell his product at a lower price. Underneath this "layer of gold" there would be strong unrest by the workers of his steel plants. During the Homestead Strike of 1892 union workers were killed and beaten by hired agents of his company.
We see Andy here at 78 years old (1913) by the time he had retired. Carnegie had reached a wealth that was rivaled only by John Rockefeller. He became a philanthropist, donating money to charities and universities. Carnegie Hall in here in New York and Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania both bear his name.QUESTION:
In these pictures we saw examples of what Andrew looked like in different stages in his life. Why is it that the last picture is the more recognizable image of Carnegie? Why is this image of Carnegie as a philanthropist promoted over the others?
4 comments:
i thougth that carnegie was cheap with his money i was wrong he became a philanthropist donated money to charities.
Carnegie is remembered more for his philanthropic activities toward the end of his career/life than for his no holds barred business practices as he was building his wealth. While his philanthropic gestures were definitely important and also set an example for future billionaires (like Bill Gates) to give their money away, it also important to remember Carnegie and others for their "robber baron" ways as self-interested businessmen!
I leny I think its the most recognizable cause now he gots respect .he did alot for the people and did something that no one will forget and now that he `s retired and is older people know him for what he did in the past.
FOR KEITH...why is it also important to remember Carnegie and others for their "robber baron" ways as self-interested businessmen if they made the money for thier own success but not to help the country???? and second of all they did not even think about who they were hurting during the process of thier success.all they were thinkin about is how to get richer.
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