How Carnegie Steel rose to be one of the most successful businesses of its time
Andrew Carnegie was one of the most successful businessmen of his time. Through his leadership, his company Carnegie Steel quickly rose to become a dominant power in steel markets worldwide. It produced around 20 to 30 percent of the steel made in the United States and accounted for around 70 per cent of national steel exports.1” This output helped pave the way for the growth of America as we know it today: supplying the nation with steel rails, beams for skyscrapers, and armor for the nation’s growing navy.
But what led to Carnegie’s success? Was it Carnegie’s business sense, pushing him to take risks that paid off in the long run? Was it the workers of the plants themselves, with their tireless work to produce the steel? Or perhaps it was simply the new steelmaking methods and technology that Carnegie adopted and implemented in his plants. Carnegie’s success cannot be boiled down to one simple factor, rather, it was a combination of everything that led to the success of his company.
Foototes:
1. Report of the Industrial Commission of Trusts and Industrial Combinations
Credits
Jacob Zawacki