American Industrialists: Robber Barons Or Captains of Industry? America’S Industrial Transformation Roger Jackson Published by K20 Center
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Page 1 of 9 American Industrialists: Robber Barons or Captains of Industry? America’s Industrial Transformation Roger Jackson Published by K20 Center Grade Level 11th Time Frame 2-3 class period(s) Subject Social Studies Duration 120 minutes Course U.S. History Essential Question How do our worldviews impact the way we view world events? How does one’s perspective distort or confirm history? Summary In this lesson, students will analyze the different perceptions of four major big business leaders of late 19th century United States. Students will discover that these big business leaders in American society are viewed by historians in two roles: robber barons or captains of industry. Students will learn how the big business leaders organized their companies and utilized philanthropy, which will allow students to formulate their own conclusions as to whether John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, Cornelius Vanderbilt, and J.P. Morgan helped or harmed the country. Snapshot Engage Students will examine and infer information systematically by completing a modified I Notice, I Wonder activity. Explore Students will work in groups of four to examine and analyze selected primary and secondary source documents over American industrialists. Explain Students will present their group's assigned industrialist to the class as either a “robber baron" or a "captain of industry” backed up by evidence collected. Extend Students will select a writing assignment (RAFT or Two Voice Poem) to reflect their analysis of a selected American industrialist. Their creative writing should reflect how their perspective has changed or was validated through their discoveries. Evaluate The student's document analysis sheets and one of the writing assignments can serve as an assessment. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/lesson/241?rev=1509 Page 2 of 9 The extension activity can also be used as an assessment as well. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/lesson/241?rev=1509 Page 3 of 9 Standards Oklahoma Academic Standards (Social Studies: United States History (9th through 12th grade)) USH.2.1A: Analyze the impact of capitalism, laissez-faire policy and the role of leading industrialists as robber barons, captains of industry and philanthropists including John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie and his Gospel of Wealth essay on American society. Attachments American Industrialist.pptx Handout 1 Industrialization Notes - Outline.docx Handout 1 Industrialization Notes - Outline.pdf Handout 2 Carnegie and Rockefeller - Documents.docx Handout 2 Carnegie and Rockefeller - Documents.pdf Handout 3 Morgan and Vanderbilt - Documents.docx Handout 3 Morgan and Vanderbilt - Documents.pdf Handout 4 Andrew Carnegie and Historical Interpretation.docx Handout 4 Andrew Carnegie and Historical Interpretation.pdf Handout 5 The Workingman's Ten Commandments.docx Handout 5 The Workingman's Ten Commandments.pdf Handout 6 RAFT - American Industrialist.docx Handout 6 RAFT - American Industrialist.pdf Handout 7 Writing Assessment - Rubric.docx Handout 7 Writing Assessment - Rubric.pdf Handouts 1-3.pdf Handouts 1-3.pptx Handouts 4-5.pdf Handouts 4-5.pptx Industrialist Analysis Sheet.docx Industrialist Analysis Sheet.pdf Pictures.docx Pictures.pdf Political Cartoons.docx Political Cartoons.pdf Robber Barons v. Captains of Industry.docx Robber Barons v. Captains of Industry.pdf Materials Paper and pencils Attached documents Computer, projector, and/or Smart Board https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/lesson/241?rev=1509 Page 4 of 9 Engage Students will examine and infer information systematically by analyzing selected photographs of the Gilded Age. Have each student create a T-Chart, labeled I Notice, I Wonder. Display two or three images from a projector or interactive board for students to examine (a PowerPoint with selected images for this lesson can be found under Attachments as "American Industrialist"). With a partner, students should document (on the left side of the chart) what they notice about the images on display and then write questions that come to mind on the right side of their T-chart. After students have documented their personal observations and generated some questions, organize students into small groups for a small-group discussion. Have these new groups discuss the following prompts and be ready to share out in five minutes with the entire class. 1. Describe the time period. 2. What are some important facts of this time period? 3. Who are the individuals in the gallery? 4. Who are the groups of people in the pictures? Variations To Extend this Activity Through Multiple Days: You may draw out this activity by presenting only one or two images this first day of the lesson and then continue to present a different photograph or graphic organizer from the PowerPoint to engage students on the following days of this lesson. Students will use the information gathered throughout the lesson to complete one of the assessment activities provided at the end of the lesson. Gallery Walk/Carousel in Lieu of PowerPoint: Prior to the students entering the classroom, the teacher could create an image Gallery Walk by placing several pre- selected images, quotes, and key vocabulary (such as "robber baron" or "industrialist") at various stations located throughout the classroom. Students may work in pairs as they make their way through the photo gallery analyzing the photos. Bring this activity to a close by having the whole class share their findings. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/lesson/241?rev=1509 Page 5 of 9 Explore In groups of four, students will be given 5-7 minutes to examine and analyze selected primary and secondary source documents over American industrialists. Using the "Industrialist Analysis Sheet" handout, students will collect key facts from each document being reviewed. Please refer to teacher note for the structure and order of this portion of the lesson. The primary and secondary source documents (handouts 1-5) should be distributed and analyzed in consecutive order. The teacher may need to help students organize their roles in analyzing the documents and note taking in their groups. Time may vary with each document being analyzed. Use "Handout 1 Industrialization Notes - Outline" (located under Attachments) to inform and instruct the class about some basic American industrialization information before continuing on through handouts two and three, after watching their respective videos. Do keep in mind that all videos are optional and should be used at the teacher's discretion. Have students watch the short film clip documentaries over Carnegie and Rockefeller (linked here or the URL can be found under Resources); then, pass out "Handout 2 Carnegie and Rockefeller - Documents," which can be found under Attachments. Have students watch the short film clip documentaries over Morgan and Vanderbilt (linked here or the URL can be found under Resources); then, pass out "Handout 3 Morgan and Vanderbilt - Documents," which can be found under Attachments. Students will analyze and document additional information provided from "Handout 4 Andrew Carnegie and Historical Interpretation" and "Handout 5 The Workingman's Ten Commandments" (both located under Attachments). Variation These documents have also been placed on PowerPoints (files for "Handouts 1-3" and "Handouts 4-5" can be found under Attachments) to accommodate teachers who may have limitations on copies. By projecting the documents on a screen or sending them electronically, students can analyze the entire document or teacher-selected portions of the documents provided. The teacher may modify the provided documents to better accommodate students and use the documents as they see best. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/lesson/241?rev=1509 Page 6 of 9 Explain Once groups have finished analyzing the documents, student groups will be randomly assigned to present one of the industrialists as either a robber baron or a captain of industry. Students will use their "Industrialist Analysis Sheet" and other notes as a guide to build their case for labeling the industrialist either a robber baron or captain of industry. Students will present their group-assigned industrialist to the class and will justify their choice using the evidence they collected during research. Ask other groups how their analysis compares to the rest of the class, and ask them for a brief explanation for their claim. Variation Students may really enjoy turning their presentations into a debate session. Teachers may group dissenting pairs of students together to work through their differences and discuss how they came to their conclusions. Have fun with it! https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/lesson/241?rev=1509 Page 7 of 9 Extend Students will complete one of the following writing assignments: either a Two-Voice Poem reflecting their conclusion presented to the class or a RAFT writing activity using one of the writing prompts from "Handout 6 RAFT - American Industrialist" (located under Attachments). The Two-Voice Poem assignment can be used either to reflect the similarities and differences between two of the industrialists presented or between the concepts of the robber baron and the captain of industry. Students may work in pairs using their research to construct the Two-Voice Poem. Teachers could offer extra credit allowing students to create a visual representation or poster reflecting their poem. Variations As an additional project, students could read the BizShifts-Trends article, "Robber Barons– Unmasking Modern-Day Titans of Industry: Scrupulous Profiteers, Generous Philanthropists…," to help them identify an example of a modern-day robber baron and/or a modern day captain of industry. As a writing assignment, students would then summarize their findings and predict how these individuals will be remembered throughout history. If the teacher would prefer, rather than a second writing assignment, students could create their own political cartoons about one of these modern-day robber barons and/or captains of industry. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/lesson/241?rev=1509 Page 8 of 9 Evaluate The completed student "Industrialist Analysis Sheet" handouts and one of the writing assignments should serve as an assessment.