Study Questions
1. How did Andrew Carnegie’s early life in Scotland influence his respect for industry and success?
2. What qualities enabled Carnegie to make the climb from laborer in a bobbin factory to Thomas Scott’s personal secretary on the Pennsylvania Railroad?
3. What were the most important contributions Carnegie made to the growth of his steel company? Notice especially his part in management, salesmanship, and expansion.
4. Many factors besides Andrew Carnegie’s entrepreneurship made possible the creation of U.S. Steel. Explain the role of the following: the influence of railroad management, Henry Bessemer, the location of Pittsburgh, the expansion of the iron and steel markets, related industries such as coke manufacture, William R. Jones, the Mesabi Range, J. P. Morgan.
5. What evidence is there that Carnegie was insensitive or cruel to other human beings, especially his father, executive staff, business rivals, and workers?
6. How did Carnegie justify the sometimes harsh course of his business career? How did his belief in Social Darwinism and his philanthropy encourage his sense of self-worth?
7. What were Carnegie’s main contributions to America as a businessman? As a philanthropist?
1. How did Andrew Carnegie’s early life in Scotland influence his respect for industry and success?
2. What qualities enabled Carnegie to make the climb from laborer in a bobbin factory to Thomas Scott’s personal secretary on the Pennsylvania Railroad?
3. What were the most important contributions Carnegie made to the growth of his steel company? Notice especially his part in management, salesmanship, and expansion.
4. Many factors besides Andrew Carnegie’s entrepreneurship made possible the creation of U.S. Steel. Explain the role of the following: the influence of railroad management, Henry Bessemer, the location of Pittsburgh, the expansion of the iron and steel markets, related industries such as coke manufacture, William R. Jones, the Mesabi Range, J. P. Morgan.
5. What evidence is there that Carnegie was insensitive or cruel to other human beings, especially his father, executive staff, business rivals, and workers?
6. How did Carnegie justify the sometimes harsh course of his business career? How did his belief in Social Darwinism and his philanthropy encourage his sense of self-worth?
7. What were Carnegie’s main contributions to America as a businessman? As a philanthropist?