Captain of Industry or
Robber Barons
Created by Beldon Kealoha with sources from these
Authors: Christine Colihan and Amy Vitcusky
August 2006

Students will understand and learn that
big business leaders of the 19th century
are viewed in two ways in American
society-
captains of industry or robber
barons.
Students will gather, examine and analyze
historical data.
 Students will develop and implement
effective research strategies for
investigating a given historical topic

Benchmarks
students will . . .
 research four big business leaders of the
late 19th century (Rockefeller, Carnegie,
Morgan and Swift)
 Determine if they are captain of industry
or Robber Barons.

Objectives
Summarize- Write a short summary of
what you have just watched.
 Question. Write a question that can be
answered from the documentary
 Clarifying. What idea or concept needs
clarification or understanding.

Reciprocal Viewing:
Note taking
Summarize
 Question
 Clarifying

Viewing video #1
Write a
short
summary of
what you
have just
watched.
Industrial might of America

Should Bill Gates, Donald Trump, Oprah,
etc. give large sums of their fortunes to
charity? Is it their responsibility? Should
they be forced to give their money away?
Give reasons why
Introductory Activity

Henry George (social reformer) vs.
Andrew Carnegie (head of Carnegie Steel)
Read and analyze the different quotes
from the two men and answer the
questions that follow.
Activity: 1st handout, Two points
of view
George
Carnegie
Social Reformer
Steel magnate
•Wealth corrupts
government
Output: Left side of note book.
Make a list of arguments for each
side.

Historian A vs. Historian B- read two short
narratives from two different historians
with different interpretations of big
business in the late 19th century and
answer the questions that follow
Handout 3: introductory activity to
the next lesson: research
Researching three big business leaders:
Rockefeller, JP Morgan and Swift
 Research handouts with websites and
biography template.
 Students have one day with the iPad 2 to
work on research.
 Essay is due by Friday, 9/23

iPad 2 research lesson

JP Morgan◦ www.pbs.org/wnet/historyofus/web10/features
/bio/B14.html

Rockefeller
◦ http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/rockefellers

Swift
◦ http://www.learner.org/biographyofamerica/pro
g14/transcript/page03.html
Businessmen of the late 19th
Century