Robber Baron or Captain of Industry Robber Baron

Robber Baron or Captain of Industry?

Robber Baron • Robber Baron: is a term used for powerful 19 th century American businessmen who were viewed as having used questionable/unfair practices to gain their wealth.

Captain of Industry • Captain of industry: was a term originally used in the United Kingdom during the Industrial Revolution describing a business leader whose means of gaining a personal fortune contributes positively to society in some way. • This may have been through increased productivity, expansion of markets, providing more jobs, or acts of philanthropy (charity).

Persuasive Character Speech • You will be assigned to ‘become’ one of these wealthy industrialists- we will pick names out of a bag. • Your task is to write and present a 2 -4 minute speech to convince us that you are either a robber baron or a captain of industry • We will then vote as a class after each speech to see if you ‘are’ a robber baron or captain of industry.

Things to include in your speech: -Name of Industrialist and Industry they dominated -Background to their lives and how they became successful -Evidence supporting both sides of the debate (robber baron vs. captain of industry) -Final argument on if they are a robber baron or a captain of industry- explain exactly why you think this—be convincing!!! • You should not be reading directly off the sheet of paper while you speak. You are encourage to try to embody your character and become this person

Grading • 60 point project grade…See rubric!