The correct answer to this open question is the following.
What factors might have motivated Carnegie to write his essay on wealth, and for whom do you think he wrote it?
The factor that motivated him to write the "Godspell of Wealth" in 1889 was the fact that he has been accused as a greedy rich man that created a monopoly with his Carnegie Steel Company in the United States.
During the Gilded Age, his company and the Standard Oil Company -owned by John Rockefeller- grew enormously until they became monopolies. During the Progressive era, these companies were the target of laws and legislations to end monopolies.
That is why, at the end of his life, Carnegie decided to sell his company to J.P. Morgan, and part of his money was dedicated to do donations.
His essay was dedicated to other wealthy businessmen of the time.
What inferences can you draw about the social and political context during which Carnegie wrote, which may have inspired his essay?
As I mentioned above, it was a time when businessmen of America just thought about getting extremely rich at the expense of the workers who labored under unhealthy working conditions, for long hours and low salaries.
In the essay, Carnegie recommends to change this perspective and invite rich people to "circulate" the money so it can generate more benefits. He says that wealthy people not only have to donate to charity but they have to make sure that the money is used for the right purposes.
