LESSON PLANS AND TEACHER RESOURCES

Transcription

1 LESSON PLANS AND TEACHER RESOURCES

2 Grade Level: Middle School/ High School Lesson Summary Overall Goal: Students will be able to examine the industrial development of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, while comparing industrial leaders and their various impacts on the economic and social fabric of the community. Learning Objectives: Students will be able to: Identify and discuss how the development of Wyomissing Industries and the decisions of its leaders, Ferdinand Thun and Henry Janssen influenced the surrounding community. Contrast and compare several industrial leaders from the late 19th and early 20th century and discuss their social and economic impact. Recognize the differences between a Robber Baron and a Captain of Industry and give examples of each. Identify current industry leaders and discuss their positive/negative impacts on society and the economy. Academic Standards: 10.2B.2 (U.S. History Grades 5-12): Identify the major issues that affected growth and development in manufacturing and community development during the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. [Identify issues and problems in the past] 10.2C.1 (U.S. History Grades 5-12): Analyze how new industrial growth affected social development. [Explain historical continuity and change] 9.2B.5 (World History Grades 5-12 ): Examine the industrial changes during the war and depression era. [Analyze cause-and-effect relationships] 7.2A.2 (U.S. History Grades 5-12): Evaluate the impact of the decision to vertically integrate and incorporate a second business. [Evaluate the implementation of a decision]

3 Academic Standards (cont d): 6.1A.6 ( U.S. History Grades 5-12 ): Compare the ascent of new industries today with those of a century ago. [Hypothesize the influence of the past] 6.1B.5 (U.S. History Grades 5-12): Investigate how leaders of industry and philanthropists, responded to the social challenges of urbanization. [Assess the importance of the individual in history] 6.1D.2 ( U.S. History Grades 5-12 ): Explain how industrialization and urbanization impacted the community development of the Borough of Wyomissing. [Analyze multiple causation] Key Terms: Philanthropy- is the act of supporting good causes and promoting the welfare of others. Time, money and property are frequently donated. Vertical Integration- a business strategy to expand a company by offering a good or service at another point in the supply chain. For example, a business may begin to manufacture parts for the machines they use. Captain of Industry- a term to describe a group of 19 th century businessmen who acquired great wealth and influence from their endeavors and used it in a positive way to improve the lives of the American people. Robber Barron- a name given to certain late 19 th century American businessmen which is meant to criticize the unethical methods they used to acquire their wealth often exploiting workers. McKinley Tariff- This tariff was passed in 1890 and raised the (tax) duty on foreign imports to almost 50%. Urbanization- is the increase in the number of people living in an area as it becomes more like a city. This may happen when the population of a city overflows to the surrounding areas. Unionization-The process of organizing the employees of a company into a labor union which will act as an intermediary between the employees and company management.

4 Lesson Activity 1: Introduce the lesson by asking students to consider and discuss a single person from the past whose actions had a major impact on society. How is that impact felt today? Explain that this lesson will examine the impact of two industrial leaders on their community and its development. Ferdinand Thun Henry Janssen Background: Ferdinand Thun and Henry Janssen were born less than a week apart in the same town in Germany and yet, their partnership only began when they came to America. In 1892 these two young immigrants joined forces to create a braiding machine company in Reading. Janssen s expertise as a machinist was the perfect complement to Thun s business prowess. Their success required expansion and a company move. In 1896, the Textile Machine Company opened in Wyomissing. By 1900 the company vertically integrated and began using its own machines to make and sell a large variety of laces and braids. The newly incorporated Narrow Fabric Company was very successful. Within six years, the Textile Machine Works also began making knitting machines for women s hosiery. In 1906 the partners incorporated Berkshire Knitting Mills. This company became one of the largest hosiery mills and machine shops in the world. These three companies together form the legendary Wyomissing Industries. Thun and Janssen experienced many challenges in the form of tariffs and market crashes, the depression and war, discrimination and organized labor. This makes their accomplishments all the more meaningful.

5 Lesson Activity 1 (cont d): Thun and Janssen also partnered in their philanthropic efforts. Together they created a model residential suburb of Reading known as the Borough of Wyomissing. They engaged a city planner and developed zoning. They established parks and playgrounds, schools and swimming pools. Ferdinand Thun and his partners initiated the Wyomissing Building and Savings Association to provide financial services to resident workers. They created the Wyomissing Development Company and Delta Reality Company to build hundreds of homes in Wyomissing. Thun and Janssen established the Wyomissing Foundation along with their partner Gustav Oberlaender and donated large sums to build Reading Hospital and the Reading Public Museum. The partners provided excellent working conditions for their employees. Health, dental care, education and career opportunities are a few of the benefits enjoyed by their workers. In 1936 Wyomissing Industries employed over 9,000 people. Together Thun and Janssen formed a partnership that formed the legacy that is An American Dream. Before viewing the video ( An American Dream Community, Family, & Industry): Distribute copies of the Graphic Organizer to each student and ask them to take notes while they watch the video. Materials: Internet Access or DVD player Graphic Organizer (copy one for each student) Group Question Sheets (one page for each group) Wyomissing Industries

6 Use the graphic organizer to record your notes while watching the video. Developments may be positive (+) or negative (-). Industrial Developments Employee Developments Community Developments

7 Group One Discussion Questions How did the industrial leaders work to improve the community? What were some of the employee benefits offered by Wyomissing Industries? Is it the responsibility of industry leaders to address the needs within their community or is that a function of government?

8 Group Two Discussion Questions Ferdinand Thun and Henry Janssen left Germany and came to America with certain dreams and expectations. Together with their community partners they achieved their dream. What opportunities made their success possible? Do you think the same opportunities still exist today to achieve the American Dream? Why or why not?

9 Group Three Discussion Questions Identify some of the challenges that Thun and Janssen faced during their partnership and consider their responses. Are labor negotiations, rising costs, tariffs and discrimination issues faced by businesses today? Give a current example. Can industry today learn from Thun and Janssen? If so what do you think they did right?

10 Group Four Discussion Questions Explain how flexibility and market response time were factors in the development of Thun and Janssen s business. Please use examples. Do you think the success of Wyomissing Industries is related to the amount of direct control Thun and Janssen had over the companies? Explain why or why not.

11 Lesson Activity 2: Ask students to describe a robber baron? Explain that the term is meant to describe very wealthy, influential business leaders who exploited their workers and often made their fortune unethically. Improving American life was not their goal, however in some cases it may have happened in spite of their intent. There is no question that Jay Gould earned this title. Introduce students to an industrial leader with a different focus. He was driven by pure greed and made his fortune manipulating stocks. He caused major disruptions in the economy and ruined countless people financially. He walked away with a profit in the millions when he attempted to Jay Gould corner the gold market. Gould was not actually producing anything and he did not act to improve American life and destroyed much for his own benefit. He was never prosecuted for doing anything illegal. He died in 1892 with a fortune valued at almost $100,000, Read more at Compare and contrast the terms captain of industry and robber baron. The captains of industry also acquired great wealth but used it and their influence to improve American life. Jay Gould represents a stark contrast to the industrial leadership of Ferdinand Thun and Henry Janssen. Explain that these classifications are not always so apparent. Tell students they will have the opportunity to decide for themselves and present supportive facts to justify their classification of the following leading industrial figures. Divide students into groups and assign each group one of the industrial leaders listed on the following worksheets. Explain that student groups will research their historical figure using the internet and classroom reference material if available. 3) Each team will complete the accompanying worksheet and assign the title robber baron or captain of industry to their subject.

12 Lesson Activity 2 (cont d) : Groups will be asked to report their decision and provide evidence from their research to support their choice. Suggested websites: Andrew Carnegie interactive biography www. pbslearningmedia.org Andrew Carnegie biography Henry Ford biography Henry Ford excellent time line John D Rockefeller biography John D Rockefeller The Richest Man in the World Andrew Mellon biography Andrew Mellon Federal Reserve work J P Morgan biography J P Morgan biography

13 John Pierpont Morgan Important dates How did they acquire their wealth? How did they use their power and influence? How did they treat their employees? Were they philanthropic? Did they intentionally work to improve life for other people? How has their work influenced life today? How would you categorize this person? Robber Baron? Captain of industry? Why?

14 Andrew Carnegie Important dates How did they acquire their wealth? How did they use their power and influence? How did they treat their employees? Were they philanthropic? Did they intentionally work to improve life for other people? How has their work influenced life today? How would you categorize this person? Robber Baron? Captain of industry? Why?

15 Henry Ford Important dates How did they acquire their wealth? How did they use their power and influence? How did they treat their employees? Were they philanthropic? Did they intentionally work to improve life for other people? How has their work influenced life today? How would you categorize this person? Robber Baron? Captain of industry? Why?

16 John David Rockefeller Important dates How did they acquire their wealth? How did they use their power and influence? How did they treat their employees? Were they philanthropic? Did they intentionally work to improve life for other people? How has their work influenced life today? How would you categorize this person? Robber Baron? Captain of industry? Why?

17 Andrew Mellon Important dates How did they acquire their wealth? How did they use their power and influence? How did they treat their employees? Were they philanthropic? Did they intentionally work to improve life for other people? How has their work influenced life today? How would you categorize this person? Robber Baron? Captain of industry? Why?

18 Further discussion: 1) How do we categorize the business leaders who treated their employees badly but were philanthropic giving large sums to charity. 2) How does this translate in todays business? Consider current industry leaders like Bill Gates and Microsoft or Mark Zucherberg worth 56.3 billion and Facebook. 3) Industries may be governed by laws that are in place today to protect employees, communities and resources from robber barons but what about the corporation that chooses to manufacture in a poor country using cheap labor with substandard working conditions.? 4) What motivates that kind of corporate decision? Is wealth or profit the current definition of success in our country? Resources of interest: Sources: