How Sugar Changed the World
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Analyzing Conflicting Ideas “How Sugar Changed the “Louisiana Sugarcane “Sugar” by Anup Shah World” by Heather Whipps Farmer” (Video) Central Idea The central idea of the text is that The central idea of the text is that there The central idea of the video is sugar had a positive and negative are many “hidden costs” in the impact of that, for some families, sugar impact on the world. the sugar industry. farming represents the fulfillment of a dream and a source of pride. Supporting Ideas and Text Evidence ● The sugar industry gave rise ● Slavery was a hidden cost in the ● There is pride in the to the increase of slavery, economy. Text Evidence: “The Blanchard family passing which was a negative impact. growing demand for and down the sugar farm Text Evidence: “By the production of sugar created the through five generations. middle of the 19th century, plantation economy in the New Lane Blanchard, the head more than 10 million World and was largely of the farm, says, “It’s the Africans had been forcibly responsible for the expansion of only thing I’ve ever done. removed to the New World the Atlantic slave trade in the Grew up on a farm; it’s and distributed among the sixteenth, seventeenth and the only thing I ever sugar plantations of Brazil eighteenth centuries.” wanted to do.” and the Caribbean.” ● Sugar had a negative impact on ● Continuing the farm is so ● Since sugar was so the environment. Text Evidence: important to the profitable, England had to “Given the rise in consumption Blanchard family that keep control of its “sugar of other sweet foods, such as Lane is taking a class on islands”. This meant that jams, sugar in bread, and later, in soil preservation through England had to give time and soda drinks and other the Louisiana Master resources to controlling the confectioneries, candies, sweets Farmers Program. slaves. This took away time and fast foods etc, the amount and resources from fighting of land to produce sugar, refine the Americans in the it, and support the industry has American Revolution. also increased.” Ultimately, the Americans ● Companies associated with sugar won their freedom, which is have caused problems. Text a positive impact of the Evidence: “In Guatemala and sugar industry. Text Colombia, there is strong Grade 8: Sugar Changed the World Evidence: “Several decisive evidence that the CocaCola battles of the Revolutionary company actively supported the War would have turned out murders of union activists by differently had Britain paramilitary members at bottling thrown its full might behind plants run by its subsidiaries and the war, experts believe.” contractors over the years.” ● Sugar has had a negative impact on health, particularly for children. Text Evidence: “In one of the most despicable marketing gambits,” Michael Jacobson, the author of “Liquid Candy” reports, “Pepsi, Dr Pepper and SevenUp encourage feeding soft drinks to babies by licensing their logos to a major maker of baby bottles, Munchkin Bottling, Inc.” Ideas that conflict with Sugar Changed the World The author supports the concept of The central ideas of the texts are in In “Louisiana Sugarcane Farmer”, the “triangle trade” that developed conflict. The author of “Sugar” contends the viewer meets a family that as a result of the sugar industry. This that the impact of sugar has been owns a sugar farm, and learns negative, while the authors of Sugar how sugar farming is an conflicts with the information conveyed in Sugar Changed the Changed the World convey that there important source of income and World. The authors of Sugar are also positive results of the sugar the fulfillment of a dream for this industry. family. In contrast, in Sugar Changed the World believe that a Changed the World, the owners more accurate description of this of sugar plantations are trade cycle would be a “spherical portrayed in a negative way, as trade” because it was much more exploiting workers and motivated complicated than a simple, only by profit. threesided triangle. Is this a matter of fact or interpretation? Grade 8: Sugar Changed the World This is a matter of fact. Based on the This seems to be a matter of This conflict is most likely due to explanation in Sugar Changed the interpretation. The author of “Sugar” interpretation the video World, it seems like the authors of seems to have looked at the facts and conveys a more modern that text have considered all of the believes that the results of the sugar perspective on sugar farmers, facts, whereas the author of “How industry are overwhelmingly negative, whereas the text focuses more while the authors of Sugar Changed the on the history of sugar farming. Sugar Changed the World” is World looked at the same facts and drew considering only a limited number of facts related to the trade. a more nuanced conclusion. Glossary for “Sugar” by Anup Shah Word Definition abolishment to officially end or stop consumerism the act of spending money on goods and services consumption the act of eating or drinking something induce to cause someone to do something lobbying the act of advocating to influence government decisions that relate to a particular industry, issue, etc. lucrative producing money or wealth luxury something that is expensive and not necessary refineries a place where something is refined (the unwanted parts of a substance are taken out) Grade 8: Sugar Changed the World tariffs taxes on goods coming into or leaving a country union activists a group of people advocating on behalf of an organization of workers formed to protect the interests and rights of its members wholesale the business of selling things in large amounts to other businesses rather than to individual customers Grade 8: Sugar Changed the World .