War as the Mother of Valor and Civilization

What it is

This is an essay written by Andrew Carnegie, listed on Wikisource under Works and Articles. The record gives no date or original publication. The opening lines respond to the idea that war is the mother of valor and the main driver of progress. Carnegie argues that early humans were savages who fought constantly, and that civilization grew as wars became less frequent and longer periods of peace followed. The text is available as an online transcription.

Why it matters

Carnegie was a prominent advocate of international arbitration and peace, and he funded peace institutions. The essay shows his argument that moral courage, not only physical courage, marks a civilized society. It also reflects a debate about war and progress that was active in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, when many writers defended war as a source of national strength.

Look closer

• Which earlier view of war is Carnegie answering, and how does he state it?
• What evidence does he offer for his claim that peace has become the rule?
• Since the date is unknown, what else could help students place this essay in its time?