Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Compare and contrast capitalism with other economic systems (i.e., communism, mixed economies). What are some positive effects that this system has on a society? What are some of the shortcomings? Which system seems to be the best for the working class?

Teaching Suggestion: This question orients students to the economic context of the essay, as well as the theme Capitalism and Inequality. As one of the most prominent industrial capitalists of the US’s Gilded Age (please see the second Short Answer for more information), Andrew Carnegie saw free-market economics as a natural by-product of civilized societies. In this vein, he believed economic systems that were based on community and redistribution, namely communism, were antithetical to evolved human nature. However, critics of unrestricted capitalism argue that Carnegie, along with the other so-called “robber barons” of the late 19th century, brought high levels of inequality, exploitation, and poor living conditions to populations. This question directly segues with the historical context of the following question; or, you may want to lead with the Short Activity to build background knowledge and context before addressing this question.