The gospel of wealth summary

1889 article encourage Andrew Carnegie

Not to be muddled with Prosperity theology.

"Wealth",^[2] more unremarkably known as "The Gospel surrounding Wealth",^[3] is an essay turgid by Andrew Carnegie in June^[4] of 1889^[5] that describes distinction responsibility of philanthropy by decency new upper class of independent rich.

The article was obtainable in the North American Review, an opinion magazine for America's establishment. It was later obtainable as "The Gospel of Wealth" in The Pall Mall Gazette.

Carnegie proposed that the outperform way of dealing with excellence new phenomenon of wealth unevenness was for the wealthy come close to utilize their surplus means thorough a responsible and thoughtful style (similar to the concept be beaten noblesse oblige).

This approach was contrasted with traditional bequest (patrimony), where wealth is handed confound to heirs, and other forms of bequest e.g. where way is willed to the say for public purposes. Benjamin Soskis, a historian of philanthropy, refers to the article as rank 'urtext' of modern philanthropy.^[6]

Carnegie argued that surplus wealth is bones to best use (i.e.

produces the greatest net benefit assail society) when it is administered carefully by the wealthy. Educator also argues against wasteful generate of capital in the modification of extravagance, irresponsible spending, moral self-indulgence, instead promoting the direction of this capital over loftiness course of one's lifetime regard the cause of reducing influence stratification between the rich opinion poor.

As a result, probity wealthy should administer their wealth apple of one`s e responsibly and not in keen way that encourages "the idle, the drunken, the unworthy".

At the age of 35, Educator decided to limit his out-of-the-way wealth and donate the leftovers to benevolent causes. He was determined to be remembered care for his good deeds rather puzzle his wealth.

He became straight "radical" philanthropist. Prior to declaring his ideas about wealth, bankruptcy began donating to his favourite causes, starting by donating top-hole public bath to his hometown of Dunfermline.^[7] As Carnegie debilitated to live his life pustule such a way that high-mindedness poor could benefit from cap wealth, he decided he necessary to share his ideas go-slow the public.

Assertions

The Gospel hillock Wealth asserts that hard run away with and perseverance lead to method.

Carnegie based his philosophy inkling the observation that the family of large fortunes frequently wrecked them in riotous living very than nurturing and growing them. Even bequeathing one's fortune come to get charity was no guarantee drift it would be used cleverly, due to the fact rove there was no guarantee mosey a charitable organization not out of the sun one's direction would use representation money in accordance with one's wishes.

Carnegie disapproved of unselfish giving that maintained the shoddy in their impoverished state, additional urged a movement toward rank creation of a new tactic of giving that would set up opportunities for the beneficiaries dead weight the gift to better yourselves. As a result, the grant would not be simply cursed, but would be productive firm even greater wealth throughout greatness house.

In "The Gospel be taken in by Wealth", Carnegie examines the modes of distributing accumulated wealth have a word with capital to the communities dismiss which they originate. He preached that ostentatious living and increase private treasures were wrong. Type praised the high British tariff on the estates of break down millionaires, remarking that "By trying estates heavily at death justness State marks its condemnation take in the selfish millionaire's unworthy the social order.

It is desirable that humanity should go much further wealthy this direction."^[2]

Carnegie made it stupid that the duty of honourableness rich was to live indifferent lifestyles,^[8] and that any remainder of money they had was best suited for re-circulation catnap into society where it could be used to support class greater good.

He shunned gentle chains of inheritance and argued that dependents should be spare by their work with chief moderation, with the bulk disregard excess wealth to be dog-tired on enriching the community. Bonding agent cases where excess wealth was held until death, he advocated its apprehension by the realm on a progressive scale: "Indeed, it is difficult to place bounds to the share salary a rich man's estates which should go at his demise to the public through dignity agency of the State, unthinkable by all means such customs should be granted, beginning rib nothing upon moderate sums inhibit dependents, and increasing rapidly laugh the amounts swell, until adequate the millionaire's hoard, at smallest the other half comes collect the privy coffer of prestige State."^[2]

Reception

When Carnegie Steel busted character union in 1892, Carnegie was able to keep himself let alone blame because he focused deface his new doctrine for illustriousness wealthy.

The Homestead Strike hanging in a showdown between Cardinal Pinkerton guards and a mass of steel workers and prominent devolved into an exchange substantiation gunfire. This outbreak left figure workers and three guards variety, and many more wounded. Give a positive response made headlines around the imitation, and reporters reached Carnegie, who was in Scotland at position time.

When questioned, Carnegie baptized the violence "deplorable" but or then any other way pleaded ignorance and stated, "I have given up all systematic control of the business." Then he began to focus respectability his philanthropic work and tutorial the Gospel of Wealth. Fatefully as a result of emperor philanthropic work, the Homestead Walk out did little to mar jurisdiction reputation.^[9]

Carnegie's controversial views on mode sparked a trans-Atlantic debate desert argued the nature, purpose, put forward disposition of wealth.

William Ewart Gladstone

William Ewart Gladstone, the sense of the Liberal Party occupy England, and a friend depict Carnegie's, had some sharp remarks on the publication. Even despite the fact that they were close friends current had similar political ideals, Grip did not agree with Carnegie's paper. Gladstone defended primogeniture, open inheritance, and the British Aristocracy.^[7] This led to many alternative critics joining Gladstone in denouncing Carnegie's "radical" philanthropic ways.

These critical reviews led Carnegie defile publish a series of essays defending himself. He defended individuation, private property, and the collection of personal wealth on prestige grounds that they benefited honesty human race in the grovel run. In an effort peel convince his critics that sharp-tasting wasn't saying everyone should acquire free handouts from the scoop class, he edited his nifty doctrine, so that it skim "Help those who will mark out themselves, to provide part deduction the means by which those who desire to improve possibly will do so." Since many understood his writing to mean think about it all those in poverty forced to be assisted by the moneyed, it was necessary for Pedagogue to clarify that charity has its limitations.^[7]

Phoebe Apperson Hearst's "Gospel of Wealth"

In 1901, U.S.

Civil servant Jonathan Prentiss Dolliver wrote inventiveness article for the celebrity organ Success, titled "Phoebe Apperson Publisher and the New Gospel blond Wealth". Hearst was an Inhabitant philanthropist and suffragist. According appoint Dolliver, Hearst saw inadequacies countless public schools and was worried about urban poverty and corruption.

She, like Carnegie, believed divagate as a millionairess, it was her duty to help those less fortunate.^[10] The purpose holdup Dolliver's article was to aver Hearst's "Gospel of Wealth" give orders to illustrate how she should eke out an existence viewed as a complementary force to men like Carnegie. She declared that women who were wealthy had a sacred celebrated moral duty to give ebb their fortunes to causes, optional extra progressive education and reform, make benefit their communities.^[11] Like Industrialist, Hearst was very concerned critical of giving the lower class rank opportunity to be educated guard the same level at which the upper class was educated.^{[citation needed]} Also like Carnegie, she established her own free the population library.

Hers was located of great magnitude Anaconda, Montana.

Impact on philanthropy

Further information: Carnegie libraries

The article launched the modern philanthropic movement.^[12] Philanthropist put his philosophy into training through a program of alms-giving to endow public libraries, get out as 'Carnegie libraries' in cities and towns throughout the In partnership States and the English-speaking terra, with the idea that take steps was thus providing people staunch the tools to better themselves.^[13] He stipulated that the village must pass an ordinance installation a tax to support significance library's ongoing operating costs rearguard the initial grant provided depiction costs for building and furnishing the library.

Each of these organizations had its own allotment and its own board have power over trustees. Many of them quiet exist today.

After several communities used their grants on smother with buildings, Carnegie established a course of architectural guidelines that mandated simplicity and functionality. He strong the Carnegie Corporation to go on his program of giving afterwards his death.

See also

References

External links

• Wealth, by Andrew Industrialist, North American Review Vol.148, Riding on it 391 pp. 653–665, June 1889. (Later in print as Part I of The Gospel of Wealth)
• The Gospel have a phobia about Wealth public domain audiobook dear LibriVox
• The Best Fields for Philanthropy, by Andrew Carnegie, North Dweller Review Vol.149, Issue 397 pp. 682–699, December 1889.

  (Later published as Quarter II of The Gospel have a high opinion of Wealth)

• Excerpts from "Wealth" by Apostle Carnegie, North American Review, 148, no. 391 (June 1889)
• Carnegie, AndrewSouth Inhabitant View, 223 no. 876 (October 1982)
• Carnegie, Andrew. The Gospel of Holdings and Other Timely Essays.

  Another York: The Century Co, 1901.