Episodes for The Men Who Built America
History Channel; Extra Credit
This miniseries is available on iTunes or rental. You can also buy the DVD set at Historychannel.com
or amazon.com. The series focuses on five innovators… mainly on Vanderbilt, Carnegie, Rockefeller,
and Morgan. Lesser on Ford and Astor. This extra credit
opportunity is an individual or group activity (up to 5
people).
Summary of Series:
Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, Carnegie, Astor, Ford and
Morgan. Their names are part of history and synonymous
with the American dream. These men transformed every
industry they touched: oil, rail, steel, shipping,
automobiles, and finance. Their efforts transformed a
country. Rising from poverty, their paths crossed
repeatedly as they elected presidents, set economic
policies and influenced major events of their day - from
the Civil War to The Great Depression. 12 million
historical negatives, many made available for the first
time by the Library of Congress, are brought to life to
offer an unprecedented view of America's Industrial Age
– and the men who built it.
This Project is Worth a Substitution Grade up to 100 pts or 10 points on the HP 6
Essay on Big Business.
Objectives
1. Analyze the impact of industrial innovation and industrialization on the American economy and culture.
2. Compare the viewpoints of these innovators at “Titans of Industry” (or Captain of Industry) or as “Robber Barons”
3. Compare and contrast secondary source perspectives on the Industrial Revolution.
Directions
1. If you are going to work in a group, find 4 other people willing to tackle this project. Each person will be responsible for one innovator: Vanderbilt,
Carnegie, Rockefeller, Morgan, and Ford. If you are working alone, then you are responsible for all 5. (or you can divide them up among a group of 2-4).
2. Print and read chapter 11 of Howard Zinn’s A People’s History. Annotate as you read. Ch. 11 of People’s History is available at:
http://www.allenisd.org/cms/lib/TX01001197/Centricity/Domain/1919/chapter%2011%20zinn.pdf.
3. Borrow a copy of A Patriot’s History from Mrs. M. and read chapter 12. Annotate! If you want your own copy of A Patriot’s History, it is available at
amazon.
4. Buy, rent, or borrow The Men Who Built America. As you view the episode(s), take notes. Keep in mind the objectives of the activity as you take notes.
5. Create your work of art which communicates the innovator, the innovation, the impact, as well as the innovator as Titan of Industry (or Captain of
Industry…or Statesmen) and as a Robber Barron. Your work of art must come together as 5 complimentary parts or as one collaborative final product.
6. Write a caption for your work of art that includes synthesis of the two secondary sources. Keep in mind your historical thinking skill for synthesis!
Name:
Class Period:
Captain/Robber:
Name:
Class Period:
Captain/Robber:
Name:
Class Period:
Captain/Robber:
Name:
Class Period:
Captain/Robber:
Name:
Class Period:
Captain/Robber:
YOU MAY NOT DO ONE COMPONENT AND EXPECT TO EARN PARTIAL POINTS… THIS IS AN ALL OR NOTHING PROJECT.
Points Possible
For Substitution
Grade
Points Possible
for Unit 5
Essay Bonus
Chapter 11 People’s History Annotations
(each student needs to read and annotate the chapter individually)
15
1.5
Chapter 12 Patriot’s History Annotations
(each student needs to read and annotate the chapter individually)
15
1.5
Episode Notes (each student will turn in notes for their particular episode(s))
10
1
Work of Art
Neatness (easy to read, see, understand, pencil is unacceptable, small fonts are unacceptable)
Effectiveness (illustrates impact of innovator/innovation as well as conflicting view of Captain or Robber)
Clear Purpose (work of art clearly and creatively reveals the innovator and innovation)
50
5
Caption
Neatness (typed, neatly formatted to accent or accompany work of art, legible-minimum 14 font)
Effectiveness (caption is thoughtfully written, synthesizing the two viewpoints of People’s and Patriot’s
history books as well as summarizing the “message” of the work of art)
Total Points
10
1
100
10
The Men Who Built America
Points Earned