QUESTION: Should the government break up Standard Oil's monopoly?
OBJECTIVES: The student should learn:
- What is a monopoly and/or trust.
- Who/what were the muckrakers.
- How Standard Oil's monopoly impacted the U.S. economy and government.
- Why Progressives such as Ida Tarbell were concerned about this issue.
- Who were the parties involved/concerned with the busting of the Standard Oil monopoly.
- How to construct a persuasive essay/editorial to present an informed opinion via newspaper media.
REQUIREMENTS: The student should:
- Become a "muckraker" of the early 1900's.
- Gather sufficient information to form opinions.
- Construct a persuasive writing/editorial to presenting opinions to the American public.
The editorial must include:
- Background information explaining the relationship between the Progressive Movement and Big Business at the time, noting that it was a significant event in the emergence of both large scale industry and the influence of the federal government on business.
- Three facts that support their opinion on the question.
- Details about two people and how they were specifically involved in the issue.
- Specifics of how they (the student/writer) would rectify the situation/issue.
