The Growth of Business and Child Labor

 

Objectives:

• TSWBAT explain the pursuit of monopoly (how and why)
• TSWBAT describe the business practices of Carnegie Rockefeller and Vanderbilt
• TSWBAT interpret historical documents
• TSWBAT describe labor conditions and union efforts to correct those conditions

Focus:

Is competition good for business? Will it produce the best results for all?  Allow time for discussion. Today we are going to look at the development of big business in the US and how that has shaped the world we live in today.

 Lesson 1: Post Reading Activity:  After reviewing 3 level guide, complete a cooperative word sort.  Group students into 5 groups. Each group receives a manipulative set of cards with the following words listed. Capitalism, Free-Enterprise, Monopoly, Trust, Social Darwinism, Corporation, Andrew Carnegie, John Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, Pullman, Westinghouse, horizontal integration, vertical integration, Standard Oil.            Students are directed to place their cards in groups of at least two and label each group. Students then share their organization with the class. Ask groups to explain why certain words went together. Discuss relationships between words. Add more detail as needed to ensure concepts were attained.

Closure:  How does business in America work?    Who are some of the key names in business for this era?

Transition:  Return to "is business competition good for all?" Now we are going to take another perspective, we are going to consider the world from the eyes of someone who worked in a factory at this time.

Lesson 2: Photo analysis and semi-graffiti  Students are placed in groups of two-three. Each group receives a photo with "worksheet" on back. Each group begins to analyze picture. After two minutes, swap photos. Continue till each group has seen at least 3 photos. Return photo to original group. Have original group present their photo and describe what the photo tells historians about labor conditions for children.

Closure:  Summarize what has been said about child labor. Why did children work under these conditions? Did they have a choice? If this were happening today, what would you do about it?

 

Worksheet

Use the following questions to guide your analysis of the Lewis Hine Photos

Step 1: Observe the photo

1. What is your initial overall impression of the photo?

 

 

 

B. Divide the picture into 4 quadrants. List the people, objects and activities you notice in each quadrant

1	2
3	4

 

 

2: Make inferences:

Based on the picture and the items listed above, what can you tell me about child labor during this time?

 

 

 

 

3: Questioning History

1. What questions does this photograph raise in your mind?

 

2. How could you answer them?

 

3. Do you think the photo is an accurate representation of child labor conditions?

 

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