The American nation has had some of the most dynamic and spontaneous changes in its growth and development. For the numerous years of existence, America has seen great changes that have defined not only its history but also its present. Influential individuals and events have marked and laid the foundation for the growth of America.
1. Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie is largely remembered for his philanthropic activities that remain vibrant and useful even to date. The most interesting part of Andrew Carnegie’s life was during the industrial age. His industrialist nature has had a great impact on the growth of the American nation. Having founded a steel company back in the year 1875, Carnegie had laid down the foundation for the structural development of America (Edge 26). Many of the skyscrapers that donned the American skylines during the 1800s were built with steel from the Carnegie steel plants.
The transition of the American nation from an agricultural economy to a commercial and industry-based economy was made possible by the enterprising individuals of the 1800s. Carnegie, for instance, represented the innovators and business men that greased the industrial revolution in America (Edge 66). Taking advantage of the government’s hands-off policy to develop a steel company empire, Carnegie managed to use his great organization skills and imagination to develop a vast empire despite the stiff competition. Using merges and oligopolies to determine the prices and control the markets, Carnegie managed to amass huge profits and further expand his business.
Towards the end of the nineteenth century, Carnegie developed interests in many fields including books, music, art and education. By 1901, he had arrived at the decision to sell his steel company empire to J.P Morgan at a staggering five hundred million dollars, making him the richest man in the world at that particular time. The newfound tastes and interests would later define his philanthropic activities that he chose to immerse in (Edge 74).
Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square
After selling his business, Carnegie began sharing his wealth with the society. Numerous, libraries, music and art theaters, education centers and research institutions would be founded through his philanthropy. As seen from the picture, Carnegie’s generosity would go a long way in shaping the educational, art and research institutions in the America. The library is a representation of the philanthropic activities by Carnegie. He encouraged other businesspersons to think about investing in their people, and that culture is prevalent even to date.
2. William Jennings Bryan
Looking at the political landscape of America in the late 1900s, William Jennings Bryan does stand out. His liberal leadership and magnetic oratory skills imprinted him in the American history as one of the most dynamic congressmen. He could be described as a democratic fundamentalist, a motivational speaker and most importantly a political leader. His notable contributions and achievements to the political scene are related to his role as Woodrow Wilson's Secretary of State (Young 230).
William Jennings Bryan is responsible for coming up with various treaties that would be instrumental in averting war through moderation and arbitration. Jennings, having been brought up on a strong Christian foundation, naturally despised war. His views on war led to his resignation in protest to the First World War. A progressive Democrat in every right, Bryan saw the need for federal income tax arguing that it formed the basis for the provision of various social needs of the people. He was also a strong supporter of women suffrage and asserted the need for the equality of the human race regardless of culture, gender or race (Young 233).
The Cross of Gold speech is one of the most notable of Bryan’s speeches. His argument was premised on the use of silver as an alternative currency. The use of gold coins as a backup for the paper money was a means of mitigating another depression; however, that meant that the farmers would find it difficult to repay their debts. By advocating for the use of silver, Bryan earned his name as one of the politicians with the interests of the people close to his heart. His argument was that the resource-poor farmers should be allowed to repay their debts through the silver coins, thus making America a bimetallist economy. The speech made artists immortalize it.
A Grant Hamilton depiction of the famous speech Cross of Gold speech by Jennings (0008529 - W.J.BRYAN: CROSS OF GOLD).
The picture is a reminder of the values that William Bryan stood for and some of the things that he did in an attempt to make America a better nation.
Works Cited
"Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square." Events DC. Web. 16 Feb. 2016. <http://eventsdc.com/Venues/CarnegieLibrary/PhotoGallery.aspx>.
Edge, Laura B. Andrew Carnegie. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications Co, 2004. Print.
Young, Earl G. American History for Everyone: A Narrative History of the United States. Philadelphia, Pa.: Xlibris, 2008. Print.
"0008529 - W.J.BRYAN: CROSS OF GOLD. American Cartoon by Grant Hamilton, 1896, on William Jennings Bryan's 'Cross of Gold' Speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Which Won Bryan the Presidential Nomination." Granger. Web. 16 Feb. 2016. <http://www.granger.com/results.asp?image=0008529>.
