Triumph of Industry Robber Barons or Captains of Industry

Triumph of Industry Robber Barons or Captains of Industry?

This lesson will also discuss Social Darwinism and how it WAS/OR IS) still a factor in the way that people looked at less fortunate people in America and around the world.

Learning Target: Choose and explain: Do you think these "Titans" or "Captains of Industry" were really "Robber Barons"? OR was it a little of both? (remember most of history is an argument- it's not black and white)

Language Target: Share (write) what your thoughts are about this topic.

Multiple Select

Look at the cartoon. What do you think it shows about how some people were perceived (looked at) by Americans? (select all that apply)

• It shows that people from other cultures were considered to be inferior to Americans

• It shows that people from other countries were treated badly by Americans

• It shows that people from other places were not welcome in the United States

• It shows that people from other cultures were not considered good enough to be Americans

• It shows that Social Darwinism can be a dangerous thing and we should not think of people any differently than we do ourselves.

Open Ended

Have you seen examples of

Social Darwinism in your life today or in America?

​“This, then, is held to be the duty of the man of Wealth . . . to consider all surplus revenues which come to him simply as trust funds . . . to administer in the manner which, in his judgment, is best calculated to produce the most beneficial result for the community—the man of wealth thus becoming the sole agent and trustee for his poorer brethren, bringing to their service his superior wisdom, experience, and ability to administer—doing for them better than they would or could do for themselves.”—Andrew Carnegie, “Wealth,” North American Review, 1889

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​Q: Determine Point of View:  How did Carnegie’s views about the duty of wealthy men indicate his belief in Social Darwinism?

Open Ended

“This, then, is held to be the duty of the man of Wealth . . . to consider all surplus revenues which come to him simply as trust funds . . . to administer in the manner which, in his judgment, is best calculated to produce the most beneficial result for the community—the man of wealth thus becoming the sole agent and trustee for his poorer brethren, bringing to their service his superior wisdom, experience, and ability to administer—doing for them better than they would or could do for themselves.”—Andrew Carnegie, “Wealth,” North American Review, 1889Support a Point of View with Evidence 

Do you think extremely wealthy individuals like Rockefeller, Carnegie, and Gates have a duty to become philanthropists?(give back to the people) Support your answer with evidence from above.