Carnegie's+Gospel+of+Wealth

Day One -
 * Get handout of Carnegie's Gospel of Wealth with questions.
 * Read through the essay.

Day Two -
 * With others in your group, answer questions.

Day Three - > > ** ANALYSIS: ** > He is arguing that the wealthy have earned their wealth, have a duty to help others, and should do so as they best see fit, as they are superior. There is also religious grounding in his argument > > I. Describes the effects of the industrial revolution on income and income distribution > II. Analyzes what is beneficial about these changes > III. Describes and analyzes current ways of handling great wealth, poses question of how it should be handled > IV. Supports the growing idea of a death tax, but also says that this alone is not sufficient i.e. rather than a death tax, which he says is inefficient, we need to have wealthy administer their wealth as they see fit while alive. > V. Responds to arguments outside of text (Capitalism & Communism) > VI. Proposes his argument – administer it oneself > VII. Problem of other modes > > These are the main illustrations used by Carnegie to support his arguments: > I. The palace and the cottage > II. Squalor and Maecenas of Rome > III. Inheritors (male vs. female) and the public need > IV. Death tax does benefit society > V. Doesn’t sap the root of enterprise > VI. Because the wealthy are superior for having earned > VII. Wasted in indulgences – The Cooper Institute > VIII. Mr. Tilden – legal disputes > > ** CURRENT INFORMATION: ** > > ** Final Analysis ** >
 * Get handout of CBS article on modern situation
 * Get Income Change Chart 1970-2010
 * Watch video on[| Income Disparity]
 * Write a 30-minute response to Carnegie final prompt:
 * ** Carnegie’s Gospel of Wealth: The Culminating Activity **
 * 1) What is the key argument that Carnegie is making in this piece?
 * 1) How does he develop his argument?
 * 1) What evidence does he provide?
 * Watch the video “Wealth Inequality in America”
 * We’ll watch this twice. Take notes.
 * Read the article from CBS News: “Income Gap Between Rich, Poor the Widest Ever”
 * Look at the graph of Average Income Change in U.S., 1970 – 2010
 * Carnegie argues that in his age there is a “…temporary unequal distribution of wealth.” Was it temporary?
 * Compare the difference between the wealthy and the poor today to the age of Carnegie.
 * Consider an analysis of the evidence Carnegie uses to support his argument.
 * ** Is Carnegie’s argument one that should guide people today? Is he right? **