Vanderbilt Forum: Watch only for the first 30 Minutes of the talk.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UG8jrbeP1zA#action=share
Robber Barons
http://www.biography.com/people/andrew-carnegie-9238756
Watch this video on Andrew Carnegie’s Life. An additional link to film is provided below.
http://www.biography.com/people/andrew-carnegie-9238756/videos/andrew-carnegie-full-episode-2071932799
New York Documentary
Watch Sections 2 and 8 (see Menu) in Ric Burns, NY, Episode 3: Sunshine and Shadow (1865-1898).
The sections run approximately at these times for those using Amazon (streaming), 10:56:00-20:00:00 minutes (section 2) and 1:11:00-1:18:00 (section 8).
Readings and Questions
Answer the following questions after watching the 3 different videos and selections:
1. How did economic and social developments in New York City reflect a new America?
2. How was the city rebuilt as a result of these changes to the national and local economy?
3. How did Wall Street respond to this new era?
4. How did new technologies change the city?
5. Why did millionaires like Andrew Carnegie move to New York City?
6. How did Vanderbilt and Carnegie reflect a new era in American capitalism? What was good and bad about these figures according to the different films? Be specific in terms of both their contributions to capitalism and the public welfare.
7. Why might Andrew Carnegie have felt guilty about his wealth?
8. What was Henry George’s response to inequality?
