Laissez-Faire and Communism Activity

You are a small town farmer living in late 18th century Britain. You own 23 acres of land and have three separate areas for your primary crop: wheat. You make a living based on this system, making only enough to provide food for your family with some left over to sell in the local market. You have just learned about Adam Smith’s theory about free markets not regulated by the government. You have also heard about Marx’s new theory saying that the lower classes of society should rise up against the upper classes to create a society where everyone is equal and all property is shared. How would these new system influence you? Discuss the questions below as a group and answer them thoughtfully in complete sentences.

1. How would a laissez-faire economy influence you? 2. How would a communist economy influence you? 3. Which one would benefit you more? Explain.

You are a 19th century factory worker living in New York. You are one of many workers in a shoe factory. There is a clear division of labor in your factory, where you are in charge of only one step in the process of making shoes. The United States has adopted Laissez-Faire capitalism, leaving you with no laws and protections as a worker. You have heard of Marx’s ideas saying that the lower classes of society should rise up against the upper classes to create a society where everyone is equal and all property is shared. How would these new systems influence you? Discuss the questions below as a group and answer them thoughtfully in complete sentences.

1. How would a laissez-faire economy influence you? 2. How would a communist economy influence you? 3. Which one would benefit you more? Explain. Laissez-Faire and Communism Activity

You are a 19th century small business owner living in Paris, France. You own a family bakery where you bake bread and pastries. You make a small living at your store, with a lot of competition from other small bakery owners and larger companies. Laissez-Faire capitalism has replaced mercantilism as the economic system in your country. Now there is no help from the government and no laws. You have heard of Marx’s ideas saying that the lower classes of society should rise up against the upper classes to create a society where everyone is equal and all property is shared. How would these new systems influence you? Discuss the questions below as a group and answer them thoughtfully in complete sentences.

You are a 19th century big business owner living in London, England. You own multiple factories that produce and sell building materials. Your factories are doing quite well in the current economy and you are ahead of the competition. The division of labor (the different roles of your workers) is well in place and there are no laws benefiting your workers or restricting you from monopolizing (taking over) the market. You have heard of Marx’s ideas saying that the lower classes of society should rise up against the upper classes to create a society where everyone is equal and all property is shared. How would these new systems influence you? Discuss the questions below as a group and answer them thoughtfully in complete sentences.