LAD #21

Andrew Carnegie was very successful, he was an incredible business man who profited most from his work in the fields of iron and steel and sold them to the railways. Carnegie was a very generous man and did not use his wealth selfishly but instead used it to fund public works projects and a library as well with the money he made in the steel industry. This helped him in developing what came to be known as The Gospel of Wealth. Carnegie thought that wealth tore people apart from each other, and was the cause of many problems society faced which was why he did not keep all of his wealth to himself. However at one point he contradicted himself, saying that the definition of social classes and having a class wealthier and higher than others could help society, as it would allow the world to change as an opportunity was given for rich and poor to bond together. Carnegie thought that rich businessmen should share their wealth, by donating money, or spending on public works as he did. He concluded his statement by saying it is the wealthy men’s duty to share their money, to set an example for future generations as not being ones who pointlessly spent money just for the sake of spending it, but rather to benefit the people and the society. His Gospel of Wealth is an inspiring document which talks about a world that would seem flawless, and he greatly encourages this effort, but with all of the other selfish rich men at this time this hope did not look like it would progress into more than an idea.