Andrew Carnegie's Life During The Gilded Age

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Andrew Carnegie Andrew Carnegie was born on November 26, 1835 in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland. His family was impoverished but they were dedicated to self education. Andrew’s father William, although poor, made sure he sent his son to get an education. Even though Andrew did go to school in his early years, most of his education was taught by his father and his uncle. His uncle, George Lauder, made Andrew memorize much of Robert Burns’ writings. The Carnegie family was destined to make a better life for their children and so in 1848 they emigrated to the United States. Andrew was 13 at the time. Once the Carnegies arrived in America they settled down in New Allegheny, Pennsylvania where some of their relatives already lived. Carnegie got his first job working in a cotton factory with his father. He made $1.20 a week there. At age 15 Carnegie began…show more content…
Too many he represented the good and bad of American culture during the Gilded Age. On one hand he was considered a “robber baron” and a cutthroat businessman. He did whatever it took to make a profit and in the process treated people unfairly. Then on the other hand he lived with the philosophy that the rich have a moral obligation to give away their money. It was considered a great evil by him to not give back to the people. He knew education was important and worked to spread education to all he could. Carnegie’s philosophy continues to be popular today, though most times it is not acted upon. Yet everyday you hear the phrase “give back to the community” and that essentially was Carnegie’s philosophy in regards to those who were…show more content…
Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie (1920, 2006). • Carnegie, Andrew. "Gospel of Wealth" (1888, 1962). • Wall, Joseph Frazier. Andrew Carnegie (1989). • Burton J. Hendrick, The Life of Andrew Carnegie
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