Nathan Barber Santa Margarita Catholic hs

Heilbroner exposes the life of Andrew Carnegie to convey the opinion that even though Carnegie embodied some character flaws, just as every human does, his motives for were purely capitalistic and his thirst to get ahead in the world is not comparable to greed. Because he gave 90% of his wealth away, Carnegie is to be considered the essence of the Gilded Age, a man of determination and of resourcefulness. He was an industrial statesman not a robber baron.

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  The many sources of impetus for industrialization came from the Civil War when the government “created a national currency and banking system, enacted homestead legislation, and appropriated federal aid for a transcontinental railroad”
  
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  The federal government played a crucial role in the postwar boom: maintained a protective tariff, gave public land to railroad companies, adopted a hard-money policy, refused to regulate the consolidation of America’s industrial order
  
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  Robber barons: controlled the essential tools of the economy itself and made millions of dollars from railroads, banking, and manufacturing
  
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  Horatio Alger: wrote many novels that had plots that dealt with rags-to-riches individuals, written to encourage the American Dream: all were capable of rising to the top
  
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  John D. Rockefeller was a penny-pinching man, Standard Oil Company, had little interest in money, stressed the values of order, organization, and planning
  
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  Some robber barons were “rapacious” capitalists like Michael Douglas
  
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  Andrew Carnegie: self-made man, embodied the spirit of the Gilded Age, advocated and celebrated industrial power, defended democracy, capitalism, and the Anglo-Saxon race, social Darwinism
  
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  Carnegie gave approximately $324,6557,399 away
  
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  Carnegie sold the Carnegie steel empire to J.P. Morgan to create the United States Steel Company in 1901
  
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  In a notebook: Carnegie did not want his business to become the center of his life, he just wanted to make $50,000/a year so that he could move to Oxford and join ranks with the literary men of the time period
  
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  He wanted to retire at 35, instead he worked for 33 more years rather than his expected 2
  
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  All of the points in that note were hypocritical, he was greedy, but he felt bad about his acquisitive nature and thus proceeded to give away 90% of his wealth
  
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  Carnegie was born in 1835 in the village of Dunfermline, Scotland
  
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  Was a product of a revolutionary childhood
  
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  Had a love of poetry, especially that of Burns, romantic egalitarianism, also Shakespeare
  
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  Power of thought to seek answers to questions that hadn’t occurred to him
  
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  Carnegie’s early life was shaped by currents of the material rather than intellectual
  
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  Emigrated to Allegheny, Pennsylvania with his mother and father to America at age 13 when there was no work to be found after the Industrial Revolution
  
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  After being a bobbin-boy, he became a messenger, decided to excel at the job and memorized all of the important names and locations of the main streets and the main firms in Pittsburgh
  
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  Went in early and stayed late, learned Morse Code, took a message “by ear”, thought that anyone could “get along” in America
  
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  Thomas A. Scott: local superintendent of the Pennsylvania railroad- Carnegie became his telegrapher, secretary, and general factorum
  
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  Scott gave Carnegie the chance to subscribe to five hundred dollars worth of Adams Express Stock
  
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  That stock gave Carnegie the first money from capital-money that was not worked for with “the sweat of his brow”
  
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  Next chance came when T.T. Woodruff introduced him to the idea of the first sleeping car in a train, Carnegie arranged for Woodruff to meet Scott, Woodruff then gave Carnegie a 1/8 stock in the Palace Car Company- $5000/year
  
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  Became a “human catalyst” in many big business decisions-profited from them
  
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  Suggested that the company of his and of Pullman unite into one, got a lot of stock
  
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  When British capital was needed, Carnegie, being from Scotland was the go between
  
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  England gave Carnegie the process to make steel with the Bessemer converter
  
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  Advocate of the most daring technology of the era and of business expansion
  
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  Formed Carnegie, McCandless & Company
  
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  Steel was usable everywhere and everyone needed it
  
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  What lay behind Carnegie’s expansion included: the massive economic expansion, the personal talent with which Carnegie surrounded himself (Captain William Jones, Henry Frick, Charles Schwab), and he himself-master salesman and a skilled diplomat of business, could win loyalty
  
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  Problems faced: prevented from selling stock unless to the company, looming competitive struggle within the steel market, increased desire to get out
  
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  On one hand he handled business, on the other he “courted the literacy and creative world”
  
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  Carnegie benevolence was exposed as false- Hamlin Garland investigated working conditions and living conditions of the workers
  
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  Established Carnegie institutes in Pittsburgh and Washington, Carnegie Hall in New York, famous libraries, Hague Peace Palace, and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
  

Even though Carnegie could be considered a Robber Baron, because he started out as a poor man who emigrated from Scotland to the United States, this fact establishes the majority of his character. He was both a man of literacy and creativity as well as a man of business. He wove his loves of the arts into his goals as a business man and was in the end, able to afford the luxuries of education and art in his later years. Luck was the main factor in Andrew Carnegie’s life. Without chance meetings with the other influential men of the age, it is doubtful that Carnegie would have made his millions. Even so, he was able to fulfill his “acquisitive” nature while remaining humble and in the end, giving most of his money away. Carnegie embodied the spirit of the American Dream in that he rose from a man of little material wealth to a giant in the business world. Some people may deem him as greedy, but Carnegie loved what he did and affected the economy of America through his determination and drive. SCORE: ‘9’

Mr. Braithwaite/Mr Brohawn

St. Peter & St Paul

23 November 2008

“The Personal Side of a Developing People”

By Jack Larkin

Thesis:

In its earliest days, America was a diverse and rapidly changing nation. Since that time, the country has thusly changed a great deal, yet some things have stayed the same.

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  Rural New Englanders carried themselves distinctly probably because of heritage and manual labor
  
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  Planter carried themselves in a refined manner, trying to differentiate their class
  
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  Americans of the early republic had little regard for sanitation
  
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  Privies were widely used at conspicuous locations
  
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  1840, significant families owned “chamber sets
  
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  The elite classes could boast running water by the 1830s
  
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  Americans drank more, in the early 19^th century, than ever before or since
  
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  Dramming- taking a fortifying glass in the forenoon and afternoon was part of the daily routine of clergymen, lawyers, doctors, etc.
  
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  Drunkenness in women was not tolerated
  
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  Penal codes in America were less severe than in Great Britain; not much received the death penalty
  
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  The temperance movement became evident in the North by the 1820s
  
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  American Temperance Society founded 1826
  
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  With success in temperance came decreases in other forms debauchery
  
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  Pregnancy before marriage hit a high in the US in the late 18^th century
  
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  Birth control could be learned starting 1830s
  
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  Sylvester Graham preached that man should remain chaste as much as possible
  
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  Tobacco was a cheap, domestic crop in America
  
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  The Revolution in America did away with most acts of subordination (ie bowing)
  
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  Americans a decade after leaving Europe were of a greater stature due to the country’s abundance.
  
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  In the North, less forest and wilds decreased a reliance on game
  

Americans in the early republic were a diverse group. The differing groups had distinctive physical habits. For instance, the New Englanders walked in an odd manner due to much physical work. Also, they wore strait faced expressions due to their strict Calvinist heritage. The other nationalities also behaved in unique manners. This was witnessed with the Irish and German immigrants. Differences in this regard could also come about from environment. For example, the merchants of New York City were said to walk “as if they had a good dinner before them.

Early Americans were lacking in good health and sanitation. In this way they were very different than the Americans of today. There was much to be desired in the area of waste management. As sewers were not widespread, Americans habitually threw refuse into the streets. The chamber pot, an early and primitive toilet, was widely used. But at the time, a sanitary lifestyle was a difficult to lead. Washbasins, for the majority of the population were rare and had only cold water. Bathing was therefore an uncomfortable and highly public ideal. Yet Americans were slowly learning the value of good hygiene. Running water came into use in the 1830s, though only the elite classes could afford it.

Americans at the turn of the century were notoriously crude, violent, and drunken. The consumption of spirits was at an all time high. Thusly, taverns sprang up across the nation. Tavern life, gambling, talking, and drinking itself was considered a necessary part of life. Abstaining from drink even at work was unheard of. In a social sense, drink was a sign of commaderie and hospitality used by all good hosts. Often accompanying drinking was another vice, tobacco. Because of its wide availability in American since early times, tobacco was chewed and smoked by all classes. By today’s standards, the use of tobacco was very excessive. This lifestyle based around alcohol was bound to have repercussions. An unsavory one was violence. Violence due to alcohol could take place between enemies or within families. Eventually, a temperance movement began. It took root in the North, under supervision of ministers. Thusly, one goal of the movement was religious piety, but another was greater social order. Leaders of the movement claimed that alcohol did not “fortify,” but “poisoned.” In the end, the temperance movement was greatly successful. From 1820 to 1840, the amount of alcohol consumed was reduced almost 75%. With drunkenness, went the other elements of that lifestyle such as gambling and fighting. Meanwhile, church attendance went up in these years. The reform movement was largely successful, but mainly in the northern states.

Another area of early American life experiencing reform was the penal system. The penal system in early America was not as severe as its counterparts in Europe. Still, pain was a regular part of punishment. Brandings and lashings were usual. The death penalty was relatively rare, yet in use for a number of crimes. Furthermore, hangings were on public display. The reform that swept through America changed this. Slowly, jails replaced whippings, and if there were hangings, more were in private.

All in all, early Americans were more immoral. This was especially true of their sex life. Premarital sex in the early republic was much more prolific than remembered. Pregnancy before marriage hit a high in the US in the last decade of the 18^th century. Bundling, a practice allowing couples to sleep in the same bed while remaining abstinent, was abandoned. Sexual relations came to extend between different races. Masters often fathered children with their female slaves, the children becoming enslaved to their own father. The sex business flourished. Women turned to prostitution for economic help or just to get freedom from families. But by the turn of the century, moral reform was to reach this issue. Some reform was not on moral ground though. Young couples, wanting to limit the sizes of their families, abstained from intercourse and even married later. At this time, different forms of contraception were even used. New views on sex came about in the early years of the 19^th century. Sylvester Graham preached that men should remain abstinent for the greater part of their lives in order to reach better physical well being. Furthermore, women came to be viewed as the keepers of the republican virtue in their homes. Therefore, the sexual act for women would be solely for the purpose of child bearing.

Not all aspects of American society have changed since that time, though. The way in which Americans treated their fellow Americans is basically the same as it is today. This was due mainly to the American Revolution and the egalitarian ideals it promoted. Regardless of social standing, all Americans were basically treated and greeted in the same fashion. Unlike the bowing of earlier, “monarchical” times, Americans greeted one another with a simple handshake. This idea of a common, American ground was basically repeated throughout the rest of society.

As is somewhat true nowadays, Americans of that period were physically different from people throughout the rest of the world. Because of the relative abundance in the United States, its citizens were about an inch taller than their relatives in Europe. The stature of Americans fluctuated from region to region, though. For instance, city dwellers were likely to be shorter than their well fed, country dwelling counterparts. Slaves, because of harsher diets, were also likely to be shorter than the white farmers.

America, in the years following its Revolution, was a rapidly changing nation. This is visible in the amount, and effectiveness of the reform movements of the day. Yet some parts of the American life have remained constant, such as the diversity.

Jarrett Klein

Mr. Bosley--2/3/09

AP US History
“The Master of Steel: Andrew Carnegie”

By: Robert L. Heilbroner

Andrew Carnegie was a “benevolent old gentleman” of great integrity. He was one who followed the Gospel of Wealth, one who made hundreds of millions in his lifetime only to give it all away when he died. Carnegie was not a Robber Baron, like many multi-millionaires, but the leading Captain of Industry. YEA, YEA, YEA! In achieving his success, along with much luck, Carnegie was always “driven by a genuine respect for the power of thought”. The determination in his work is what would eventually get him at the for-front of the industrial age. [This is great work!]

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  Throughout his business career Carnegie had given over $324 million to the community
  
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  It was speculated that at his death, Carnegie’s estate would be worth over $500 million, but after further investigation his estate was only worth about $20 million
  
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  He took part in improving public education and improving the standards of living for the poor
  
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  Carnegie called wealth “one of the worst species of idolatry” and instead of retiring at thirty-five he choose instead to spread his wealth to others
  
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  As a young boy Carnegie developed into a Republican who hated the rich
  
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  After his family business failed he and his father resorted to working in a cotton mill for $1.20 a day
  
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  Not seeing this as a way of life Carnegie moved to Pittsburgh to become a messenger boy
  
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    So determined to be the best, he studied the street names and locations for weeks
    
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    And at night he would learn Morse Code so that he could again be promoted to something better
    
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  Impressed by this determination Thomas A. Scott (superintended of the Pennsylvania Railroad) made Carnegie his telegrapher, secretary, and general factotum at $35 a month
  
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  After an incident involving the Railroads that Carnegie was able to fix by himself, he became Thomas’s favorite
  
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  He later gave Carnegie $500 worth of stock to Adams Express
  
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    Carnegie later remarked, “It gave me the first penny of revenue from capital—something that I had not worked for with the sweat of my brow…” This became the backing behind Carnegie’s future
    
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  He immediately invested in Woodruff Palace Car Company and received over $5,000 a year within two years
  
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  At the time of becoming a young railroad executive Carnegie invested in the Keystone bridge company earning him $15,000 in 1868
  
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  In 1865 Carnegie left the Railroad business and his superintendent position, seeing that he could make more money concentrating all his efforts on investment
  
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  His next purchase was in Pennsylvania oil country which eventually earned him over one million dollars in one year
  
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  In 1869 Carnegie met George Pullman (his competitor in the train car market) at the St. Nicholas Hotel, where they would later form a new company that combined both companies naming it the Pullman Palace Car Company
  
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  Acting as the middleman between American Railways and those willing to give British capital to the railroads he became good friends with prominent bankers including Junius Morgan. His trips also earned him over $100,000 per return
  
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  Also as a result of his trips to London, in 1872 Carnegie learned of the Bessemer steel process, which at first sight he became fascinated with
  
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  Carnegie formed Carnegie, McCandless & Company as a result, which would become his main source of income for the next thirty years
  
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  Steel soon replaced iron railroads, ships, buildings, bridges, and machinery of every kind
  
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  From 1885 to 1900 Britain fell from the number one producer of steel to producing 700,000 tons less than just the Carnegie Steel Company
  
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  Carnegie surrounded himself with the talents of Captain William Jones, Henry Frick, and Charles Schwab, all of which aided in his steel making company
  
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  Also aiding his business was Carnegie himself, he was a skilled diplomat and he promoted competition among his workers leading to a more efficient workforce
  
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  His steel business grew from one earning $3.5 million in 1889 to $40 million in 1900
  
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  After a long time in the business and because of the increasing competition among companies Carnegie showed an increasing desire to “get out”
  
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  Carnegie soon sold his company to J.P. Morgan for $492 million, $300 million of which would be Carnegie’s
  
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  In the Gospel of Wealth “Carnegie had proclaimed the duty of the millionaire to administer and distribute his wealth during his lifetime”
  
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  The wealthy at the time believed that his statement was absurd and those with money earned it and therefore should be able to keep it (Social Darwinism)
  
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  As a result of Carnegie’s donations over 3000 libraries, numerous Carnegie institutes, and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace were formed [You read the book!]
  

As determined by his actions, Carnegie was a benevolent man, probably because his family had been put out of business by the expanding industry so he knows the situation that families are in. He knows of the working conditions, of the long hours and horrible pay and he knows that is not the fault of the individual for such problems. By creating the libraries and educational institutes Carnegie made it possible for those who wish to be better, as he did, to become better. Carnegie also promoted competition among his workers that would better themselves and the business at the same time, and in doing so he was not just out to become the richest person in the world. In fact his benevolent industry methods are what caused that occurrence. Other industry leaders, especially Robber Barons should have followed Carnegie’s example, although maybe not as radically as him.

US History

Mr. Braithwaite

8 December 2008

Eric Foner

The 14^th Amendment was one of the most important consequences of the great crisis occurring after the Civil War. It has shaped American life up to modern times.

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  The 17^th Amendment’s purpose was to guarantee rights to blacks and loyal Southerners
  
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  Late in 1866, the 14^th Amend. was passed. No surprise because the South wasn’t represented
  
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  Pres. Johnson, a racist and pro-states’ rights, was sworn in 1865
  
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  Moderate Republicans, led by Trumbull and Sherman, did not believe in black suffrage like the Radicals, but did want “loyal” Southern gov’ts and basic rights for freedmen
  
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  Civil Rights Act of 1866 was the 1^st piece of legis. To become law over a president’s veto. It outlined rights that all Americans would enjoy (regardless of race)
  
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  The 14^th Amend. did not directly guarantee blacks the right to vote; it only punished those states restricting blacks from voting
  
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  Johnson’s 1866 “swing around the circle” was to drum support against the 14^th Amend.
  
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  The “Constitutional Revolution” became complete with the 15^th Amendment: states could not deprive vote because of race
  
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  only use of the term equality in the original Constitution had to do with numbers of senators
  
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  1873 Slaughterhouse Cases ruled that the 14^th Amend. only protected those rights which came from the federal gov’t
  
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  “liberty of contract”- one way the 14^th Amend. was interpreted which protected corporations from gov’t regulation
  
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  Incorporation- a practice using the 14^th Amend. to apply Bill of Rights freedoms to citizens on a state level
  
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  In the 50s and 60s, the Supreme Court under Earl Warren expanded civil liberties for all
  

In 1866, as can be seen by the career of the majority leader, Thaddeus Stevens, Congress was very radically Republican. They viewed the Reconstruction as a chance to increase black rights and change Southern life in its essence. The legislature to come about was the 14^th Amendment. It did much, including to give rights to blacks and to take rights from former Confederate leaders.

Andrew Johnson instated a Reconstruction plan which allowed for much freedom of local rule. With the coming of “Black codes” and racial violence, it became clear to many that Johnson’s plan was too lenient. Radicals, led by Stevens, wanted to dissolve Johnson’s governments in the former Confederate States. It was not until Johnson’s policies became completely detrimental to Republican plans in the South that these Radicals could count on backing from their moderate counterparts. When the Civil Rights Act of 1866 became law after Johnson’s veto, it became evident who had the power.

To define, once and for all, the meaning of the Civil War, Congressional Republicans wrote out the 14^th Amendment. It became now a trick of uniting the Republican factions. As it turned out, the Amendment did not completely satisfy the Radical Republicans. For instance, it did not guarantee black voting. Yet, it did make very important strides in guaranteeing the rights of American citizens. In section 1, it promised citizenship on a state and national level to all born or naturalized in the US. The Reaction of President Johnson, as expected, was to campaign against the Amendment. Though he did drum up support in the South, this only served to convince Republicans that Reconstruction should be even more uncompromising in its dealings with the southern people.

After the 14^th Amendment, the national government took on a new meaning. No longer a threat to individual liberty, the national government was viewed as its protector. Previous amendments, like those in the Bill of Rights, dealt only with federal-state relations. The 13^th, 14^th, and 15^th Amendments dealt with freedoms guaranteed by the federal government for individual citizens.

But Reconstruction soon ended. Equality was again attacked by white southerners. The Supreme Court took many rights from blacks in their interpretations of the amendments. Segregation became state policy because “separate can be equal.” A system of deference came into being, where blacks lost economic and political privilege. It continued because of the North’s new indifference. The 14^th Amendment went on to have different interpretations. For a period, it was used to protect corporations form government intervention. Then, it was used to “incorporate” rights of the first ten amendments into the rights of state citizens.

But in the 60s, the court once again became the friend of racial justice, and interpreted the 14^th Amendment thusly. Segregation was deemed as a violation of the Amendment because “separation ins inherently unequal.” All citizens achieved greater liberty in this period. The most influential of new rights was “privacy.” This was to be used in cases such as Roe v. Wade, legalizing abortion. All minorities and walks of life began to look upon the 14^th Amendment for greater liberty. Started in a time of chaos after the Civil War, the 14^th Amendment has transformed and continues to be a mainstay of equality in the United States.

Suki Ferris

Précis Number 6

Hereford High School

AP US History

Mr. Bosley, Pd # 6