Classroom Activities
The following classroom activities are listed and described below to ensure that students understand the unit’s concepts properly. This is not an exhaustive list for this curriculum unit. (Note: SWBAT = Students will be able to; IOT= in order to).
Barons of Industry Political Cartoon Analyzation
Objective:
SWBAT analyze political cartoons IOT recognize the economic inequality and political corruption of the Gilded Age.
Materials:
- The Trust Giant’s Point of View. “What a Funny Little Government.” Library of Congress. Photo. https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/96507002/.
Procedure:
Students will analyze the political cartoon. They will then answer questions to identify who the cartoonist believes controls the government, what symbols the illustrator includes, and if industrial magnates such as John D. Rockefeller are captains of industry or robber barons.
Perspectives on Striking Document Stations
Objective:
SWBAT read a series of primary sources IOT understand the attitudes of industrialists, politicians, and laborers regarding calling a strike during the Labor Movement.
Materials:
- “Against the Union Men: HC Frick Is Fighting the Amalgamated Association.” Chicago Daily Tribune. Chicago, IL. July 3, 1892.
- “Anarchy Chosen, Says Gompers: Labor Leader Discusses Philadelphia Strike.” The Atlanta Constitution. Atlanta, GA. March 6, 1910.
- Reed, John. “Back of Billy Sunday.” Metropolitan Magazine. April 1915.
- “Philadelphia in Grip of Sympathetic Strike; Thousands of Men Out: Labor Leaders Estimate that 75,000 Workmen Are Resting from Their Labors.” The Atlanta Constitution. Atlanta, GA. March 5, 1910.
- “Philadelphia Rapid Transit: Earnings Show the Effect of the Strike of Last Spring.” Wall Street Journal. New York, NY. September 22, 1910.
Procedure:
Students will read a series of excerpts from primary sources. The compilation of documents includes perspectives from labor union leaders, industrialists, socialists, communists, and laborers. After determining the values and limitations of each document’s origin, purpose, and content, students will be asked to write a free response analyzing how participants of the Labor Movement felt about using a strike.
Multimillionaire Manifesto
Objective:
SWBAT read an excerpt from Andrew Carnegie’s The Gospel of Wealth IOT compare the philanthropic views and business practices of the most prominent business owners of the Gilded Age and today’s world.
Materials:
- Carnegie, Andrew. “The Gospel of Wealth.” Last modified July 22, 2021. https://www.carnegie.org/about/our-history/gospelofwealth/
Procedure:
First, students will read an excerpt from Carnegie’s views on philanthropy. Then, students will select two billionaires from a predetermined list. For each billionaire, students must explain the business owner’s views on philanthropy and their business practices. After completing this section, students will draft their manifesto, which details how they believe they would conduct their company and make philanthropic contributions if they were a multimillionaire. Students will be asked to draw references to the Labor Movement while speaking about labor unions, tax reform, minimum wage, working conditions, and more.
Comments: