Andrew Carnegie was a man of great influence, his leadership of the growing steel empire in America, was a representation of his power and influence over the industrial might of America. This influence came with its struggles as well as opportunities, with his power and monetary wealth came the opportunity to give back to the great country of America, that took in an immigrant boy from Scotland and saw him become one of the wealthiest and most successful Americans of a generation. The rise of Andrew Carnegie from humble immigrant beginnings to leader of the a large steel company is the definition of the “American dream” for all Americans1. Working his way up from an assistant to a railroad executive, to eventually running the western division of the Pennsylvania railroad2 the business education and professional opportunities of Andrew Carnegie were nothing short of impressive. What’s even more impressive is after all of his business success, he pledged to give back a majority of his money through charitable donations (Carnegie’s ideas behind charitable donations by the wealthy can be seen in his book Gospel of Wealth) . However, for all the impressive accomplishments of Andrew Carnegie and his philanthropic donations, he had a more cynical side to him.
In the article Robber Baron Turned Robin Hood, historian Richard Erensberger Jr. makes the case that Carnegie was a complicated figure in gilded age history. His philanthropic donations, and overall ideology about workers’ rights was something of an anomaly for the era he was in, but his treatment of his own workers, and his anti-union rhetoric leaves Ernsberger to view Carnegie as a “grey figure” in history 3. Ernersberger, comes to this conclusion by viewing Carnegie as a “whole person”, not leaving out the parts of Carnegie that were flawed (such as the Homestead Strike of 1892) 4 . While Carnegie’s should be celebrated for his donations and push to move society forward (through libraries and other public donations), his anti-union rhetoric and situations such as the homestead strike of 1892; show he’s a conflicted figure and deserves deeper thought into his character. This exhibit will provide the reader with the multiple flaws and triumphs of Carnegie’s professional career, and prove how Carnegie is someone who should be both celebrated and condemned in society.
1Staniford, Les. Meet You in Hell Andrew Carnegie, Henry Clay Frick, and the Bitter Partnership That Transformed America. Paw Prints, 2010 pg.24-26
2 Staniford, Les. Meet You in Hell Andrew Carnegie, Henry Clay Frick, and the Bitter Partnership That Transformed America. Paw Prints, 2010 pg. 31-35
3 Ernsberger Jr., Richard. 2015. “ROBBER BARON Turned Robin Hood. (Cover Story).” American History 49 (6): 32–41. pg.35
4 Ernsberger Jr., Richard. 2015. “ROBBER BARON Turned Robin Hood. (Cover Story).” American History 49 (6): 32–41. pg. 38-40