HERO OR

Carnegie’s Philanthropy (Partial List)

ROBBER BARON 1.How much money did Carnegie
Gifts Amount Note give away?
The second half of the 19th century was a time of big business-big railroads, big
oil, big flour, and big tobacco. But nothing was bigger then steel. And in the Princeton $400,000 To create Lake Carnegie for
University rowing
steel business no man was more powerful than Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie was
also the richest man in America. Evaluate the following evidence to determine TIAA $1,000,000 Teachers Insurance & Annuity
Doc
Assoc.
if Carnegie was an American hero or Robber Baron. C
Dunfermiline Trust $4,000,000 Carnegie’s boyhood home
town
Doc 2. Does this document support or
A Homestead Relief $4,000,000 Fund for steel workers and reject your opinion of Carnegie as a
Fund families hero or Robber baron? explain
Church organs $6,248,000 Total number 7689

Carnegie Peace $10,000,000 To “hasten the abolition of

Endowment war”

Universities of $10,000,000 Endowment for Universities

Scotland

Teacher’s Pension $15,000,000 Old age help for poor

Birthplace cottage of Carnegie. Dunfermiline, Scotland. Skibo Castle, Domoch Firth, Scotland. Andrew Fund professors
Carnegie & his family of 4 lived in the attic above his Carnegie purchased Skibo Castle in 1897 and made
fathers weaver’s shop. This building was shared with long frequent visiits, occasionally residing there. Carnegie $25,000,000 To promote scientific research
Renovation cost: about $10,000,000 Institution
another family 1835-1848, Annual rent: $20
Free public $50,365,000 Total number 2811 mostly in
1. In what country were both homes located?
libraries US

2. How could these images be used to support or reject the heroism of Carnegie? Carnegie $145,000,000 Super trust for administering a
Corporation large part of Carnegies
remaining fortune

Total (This List $271,013,000

only)

Total Giving Overall $350,695,653

... What is the proper mode of administering
wealth after the laws (of survival of the
fittest) upon which civilization is founded
Source: Andrew Carnegie, "Wealth," in the
As to the second mode, that of leaving
wealth at death for public uses, (why should
a man) wait until he is dead before he
superior wisdom,
1.What is “survival of the fittest’ and how 3.What does Carnegie mean when he says, “the man
experience, and
does it “throw” wealth into the hands of who dies rich dies disgraced?”
ability to

becomes of much good in the world? ... the few?

have thrown it into the hands of the few? administer; doing
Norfh American Review, June, 1889.

There are but three modes in which surplus
wealth can be disposed of. It can be left to
the families of the decedents; or it can be
bequeathed for public purposes; or, finally, it
can be administered by its possessors
during
their lives....
The first is the most injudicious....Why
should men leave great fortunes to their
children? If this is done from affection, is this
not misguided affection?
Men who leave vast sums in this way may for them better
fairly be thought men who would not have than they would
left it at all had they been able to take it with or could do for
them.... 2.According to Carnegie, what should a 4.These ideas are often referred to as “The Gospel of
themselves....
rich person do with his fortune? Wealth.” Are the ideas expressed in this document
There remains, then, only one mode of the ideas of a hero? Explain your thinking.
The man who
using great fortunes; ... the duty of the man dies rich dies
of wealth (is to) set an example of modest disgraced.
... living...; and ... To consider all surplus
revenues ... as trust funds ... to produce the
most beneficial results for the community - Doc
the man of wealth thus becoming the ... B
agent for his poorer brethren, bringing to
their service his
 Doc
Doc
E
D

Source: William Jewett Tucker, “The Gospel of

Wealth,” Andover Review 1891
*patronage: giving to the poor
FOURTY-MILLIONAIRE CARNEGIE IN HIS DOUBLE ROLE
1.Who are the 2 figures standing on the cash box?

2.What is the figure on the right handing out and to whom?

1.What is the meaning of “patronage?”

2.Why is William Jewett Tucker critical of Carnegie?

3.What is the figure on the left handing out and to whom?

3.What does Tucker mean when he says that the ethical question of the day in the distribution of wealth, not the
4.Do you think the cartoonist believes that Andrew Carnegie is a hero? Explain
redistribution of wealth?

4.In 1913 The New York Herald reported that Carnegie had given away of $300 million, nearly double that of the next
largest giver, Rockefeller. Knowing this, do you think Tucker’s criticism of Carnegie is fair?

Negatives
Based off this handout, the video, and our notes list all the positives you can attribute to
Carnegie

WEIGH THE PROS AND CON’S OF

CARNEGIE.
WAS HE MORE HERO OR ROBBER
Positives BARON? Based off this handout, the video, and our notes list all the negatives you
can attribute to Carnegie