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Lesson

Debating Industrial Progress: Andrew Carnegie vs. Henry George

Duration
65 min
Grade
9–12
Published
Nov 15, 2020
Black and white photo of an older man in a patterned coat and cap, standing by a stone railing outdoors.
Use this Lesson with the Andrew Carnegie and the Creation of U.S. Steel Narrative and the Were the Titans of the Gilded Age "Robber Barons" or "Entrepreneurial Industrialists"? Point-Counterpoint to highlight the impact businessmen like Carnegie had on industry and philanthropy in the Gilded Age.

Learning objectives

  • Students will examine differing accounts on human progress by reading and summarizing the arguments of Henry George and Andrew Carnegie.
  • Students will practice civil discourse by following the Structured Academic Controversy model of debate.

Materials

Lesson Components

ActivityStructured Academic Controversy Directions and Graphic Organizer

A facilitation guide for a Structured Academic Controversy to address the themes of Is industrial progress as a positive force for human progress in the Andrew Carnegie and Henry George primary sources.

ActivityIndustrial Progress Primary Sources

Andrew Carnegie and Henry George primary sources that share contrasting views on industrial progress.

Lesson plan

65 minClick a phase to open it

More Information

Students can complete the readings for this activity in class or for homework.

Standards

Advanced Placement

  • Topic 6.6 · The Rise of Industrial Capitalism
  • Topic 6.11 · Reform in the Gilded Age
  • Theme · Work, Exchange, and Technology
  • Theme · Social Structures
  • Learning Objective · Unit 6E
  • Learning Objective · Unit 6I
  • Historical Development · 6.1.I.D
  • Historical Development · 6.3.I.C
  • Reasoning Skill · Sourcing and Situation
  • Reasoning Skill · Source Claims and Evidence
  • Reasoning Skill · Contextualization
  • Reasoning Skill · Making Connections
  • Reasoning Skill · Argumentation
  • Reasoning Process · Comparison
  • Reasoning Process · Causation

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