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andrewcarnegie,knownasthekingofsteel,builtthesteelindustryintheunitedstates,and,intheprocess,becameoneofthewealthiestmeninamerica.hissuccessresultedinpartfromhisabilitytoselltheproductandinpartfromhispolicyofexpandingduringperiodsofeconomicdecline,whenmostofhiscompetitorswerereducingtheirinvestments.
carnegiebelievedthatindividualsshouldprogressthroughhardwork,buthealsofeltstronglythatthewealthyshouldusetheirfortunesforthebenefitofsociety.heopposedcharity,preferringinsteadtoprovideeducationalopportunitiesthatwouldallowotherstohelpthemselves."hewhodiesrich,diesdisgraced,"heoftensaid.amonghismorenoteworthycontributionstosocietyarethosethatbearhisname,includingthecarnegieinstituteofpittsburgh,whichhasalibrary,amuseumoffinearts,andamuseumofnationalhistory.healsofoundedaschooloftechnologythatisnowpartofcarnegie-mellonuniversity.
otherphilanthrophicgiftsarethecarnegieendowmentforinternationalpeacetopromoteunderstandingbetweennations,thecarnegieinstituteofwashingtontofundscientificresearch,andcarnegiehalltoprovideacenterforthearts.fewamericanshavebeenleftuntouchedbyandrewcarnegie'sgenerosity.hiscontributionsofmorethanfivemilliondollarsestablished2,500librariesinsmallcommunitiesthroughoutthecountryandformedthenucleusofthepubliclibrarysystemthatweallenjoytoday.