The Impact Of Andrew Carnegie On American Society

Although much has changed since the nineteenth century, the idea of what makes an American truly great has not. When speaking about the nature of Americans at a Democratic National Committee fundraiser in 2011, our president explained that “[Americans] don 't expect others to do for us what we can do for ourselves”. This ideal has remained true since well before the nineteenth-century, when determination was the only catalyst for change. The greatest example of this determination was the rags to riches story of the Scottish-American immigrant that completely transformed America’s society and economy. Andrew Carnegie, the Titan of the Steel Industry, had considerable impacts on American society in the late nineteenth century. He contributed …show more content…
Initially, Carnegie had trouble defining the best form of charity. Carnegie believed that wealthy men have a duty to set an example of modesty and provide for their dependents (North American Review 1). In a 1901 issue of Pall Mall Gazette, he hints towards the idea that an ideal government would redistribute its surplus of wealth. However, he does later argue that the great irregularity in wealth inequality is far better than universal squalor (Pall Mall Gazette 2). It was clear that by the end of his business career, Carnegie felt charity was an obligation of affluent individuals, not the government. He also felt philanthropists could contribute donations far more effectively than the government by funding institutions which provided unique assistance and individual purposes for public improvement (Lapsansky-Werner et. all 193). His primary focus in his philanthropy was education. He founded the Carnegie Institution (est. 1902) which funded scientific research and teacher pensions. He also established well over two thousand public libraries (America 's Library 2). Carnegie was reluctant to just "hand out money". He was often troubled the idea that “those worthy of assistance… seldom require assistance,” (North American Review 3). He sought to find a cause that allowed those in need to help themselves rather than rely solely on monetary donations or public relief (Wooster 1). Many question if Carnegie was in fact entirely magnanimous in his philanthropy, or if his generosity was prompted by guilt. Perhaps he viewed his own business practices unethical to the point of remorse. It is necessary when studying history to consider the viewpoints and morals of the time rather the present because what may seem unethical now, from a business standpoint, was most likely considered necessary and unavoidable during Carnegie’s time. Holding a nineteenth-century man to