Economic and Social Visions of the Gilded Age SWBAT: DESCRIBE VIEWS OF CRITICS WHO CHAMPIONED ALTERNATIVE VISIONS OF THE ECONOMY & SOCIETY DURING THE GILDED AGE
Do Now After reading “Historical Perspectives: Melting Pot or Cultural Diversity”, and using your prior knowledge discuss and respond to the following questions with your partner: 1. Do you agree more with Degler or Handlin? Explain. 2. Is the cultural diversity in the U.S. society today a permanent condition –or just unmelted bits of foreign ways that will someday fuse into a homogeneous culture?
Captains of Industry or Robber Barons? Captain of Industry Business leader whose means of amassing a personal wealth contributed positively to society in some capacity increased productivity provided more jobs acts of philanthropy Robber Baron Businessmen who used exploitative practices to amass their wealth exerted control over natural resources influenced government paid low wages eliminated competition in order to create monopolies Price-fixing Which term do you feel best describes the Big Businessmen of the Gilded Age? Explain your response.
Cartoon Analysis Do the following cartoons support the idea of industrialists as “Captains of Industry” or “Robber Barons”?
Social Critics Many criticized the practices of “Big Business” and the effects of these practices on society Why did people in society criticize industrialists? 5 Social Critics: Henry Lloyd, Edward Bellamy, Henry George, Walter Rauschenbusch, Jane Addams
Social Critics 1.Henry Lloyd- criticized methods used; concerned for the small businessman 2.Edward Bellamy- Looking Backward, showed a utopian socialist society in 2000, retirement age = 45 -anti-capitalist, “radical” -influenced Progressives
Social Critics 3.Henry George- Progress and Poverty, explained how industrial progress leads to poverty, because it creates two opposing classes: rich and poor
Social Critics 4.Walter Rauschenbusch- led the Social Gospel movement - Christians obligated to improves lives of less fortunate - “Hell’s Kitchen” in NYC - influenced Progressives
Social Critics 5.Jane Addams- founded Hull House (a settlement house) in Chicago in Goal: have immigrants live with college-educated people to easetransition into American society - Taught cooking, hygiene, child care - Meeting places for young women activists Fun Fact: 1 st American woman to receive Nobel Peace Prize
Practicing Historical Thinking After reading the excerpt from Jane Addams’, “Twenty Years at Hull House”, complete the two questions that follow with your partner