Jared Jozwiakowski
USH 10 1A
Carnegie DBQ
Was Business Leader Andrew Carnegie a “robber baron” or a “captain of industry?”
J. Paul Getty’s formula for success is rise early, work hard, and strike oil. Andrew
Carnegie lived his life by same ideals and was a very successful man. Andrew Carnegie
made many important advancements to the industrial world. Andrew Carnegie’s survival
of the fittest mentality was the key to his success. Andrew Carnegie was a captain of
industry who tremendously influenced society during his time.
Andrew Carnegie greatly changed the way the industrial world was run. Carnegie
used modernized equipment in all of his steel mills to make them more efficient.
Carnegie made sure his employees weighed the materials they were using so there would
be no waste. Waste was a loss in profit and Carnegie would not stand for it. Andrew
Carnegie also built a mill that used the Bessemer process to make steel. The Bessemer
process created steel at a lower cost. Document P has a graph that shows how much of
the steel market Carnegie controlled. In 1990, Carnegie Steel put out thirty percent of the
market’s steel; that is a huge part of the market. This document shows that Carnegie’s
advancements in his steel mills put him far ahead of his competitors. Carnegie Steel led
the way in the steel making business because of his efficiency and use of resources.
Carnegie was an industrial king. Document C is a picture of the Bessemer process in a
Carnegie mill. The title says, “By 1899, the Carnegie Steel Company manufactured more
steel than all of the factories in Great Britain.” The Document shows that Carnegie Steel
is so productive that one business can produce more steel than an entire country!
Carnegie Steel took over the entire manufacturing world. Carnegie’s use of vertical and
horizontal integration made his business a world power. Carnegie’s increased efficiency,
productivity, and new processes have helped him become the industrial giant of his time.
Andrew Carnegie’s survival of the fittest mentality was the key to his success. In
Carnegie’s mills every man’s productivity was compared to that of other men in the same
job. This forced workers to work hard if they wanted to keep their jobs. Carnegie
believed that if a man worked very hard success would soon follow. During the
Homestead Strike, Carnegie said, “Shutdown and suffer.” He was a harsh employer, but
that is what made Carnegie very successful. Document D is an essay written by Carnegie.
In the essay, he says, “Concentrate, perform more than your prescribed duties.” The
document shows that Carnegie always believed that with extra effort you will succeed.
This quote shows his belief in Social Darwinism. If you work hard you can be successful
in life no matter where you start off. Document H is the telegrams between Carnegie and
Frick during the Homestead Strike. In his telegram, Carnegie said, “Of course you will
win, and win easier than you suppose.” Carnegie believed he was stronger than the
workers and that he could live out the strikes. His survival of the fittest mentality stopped
him from negotiating with the workers and ended the workers shot at getting new
contracts. Carnegie lived by the ideas of Social Darwinism, he lived believing that effort
and strength resulted in success, and that is what pushed him to become a captain of
industry.
Andrew Carnegie was a captain of indusrty who greatly changed the industrial
world. Carnegie made many advancements to the industrial world. Carnegie’s Social
Darwinsim mentality was the key to his success. Andrew Carnegie chased the idea that
hard work from the bottom would led to success at the top and that made him into an
industrial giant.