Activities

1. Analyzing One Approach to the Cause of Poverty

In 1879 Henry George wrote a best-selling book on economics entitled Progress and Poverty. Within several years, it made a significant impact during this period -- a period marked with countless reformers writing and speaking about how to cure the ills of industrialization. His main emphasis was on the use of land -- that all, and not a privileged few, should have access to all our natural resources. Below is an excerpt from his book:
The poverty which in the midst of abundance pinches and embrutes men, and all the manifold evils which flow from it, spring from a denial of justice. In permitting the monopolization of the opportunities which nature freely offers to all, we have ignored the fundamental law of justice -- for, so far as we can see, when we view things upon a large scale, justice seems to be the supreme law of the universe. But by sweeping away this injustice and asserting the rights of all men to natural opportunities, we shall conform ourselves to the law -- we shall remove the great cause of unnatural inequality in the distribution of wealth and power; we shall abolish poverty; tame the ruthless passions of greed; dry up the springs of vice and misery; light in dark places the lamp of knowledge; give new vigor to invention and a fresh impulse to discovery; substitute political strength for political weakness; and make tyranny and anarchy impossible.

After reading the above excerpt, please answer the following questions:

  1. What does George consider to be the prime cause of poverty?
  2. What do you think George means by justice?
  3. What is meant by the term distribution of wealth?
  4. Evaluate the above selection, telling why you agree or disagree with it.
  5. To what degree is the monopolization of land a problem throughout the world today?
  6. Why do you feel, based upon the above excerpt only, that Henry George had appeal during this period?
  7. Is it possible for humanity to abolish poverty? Explain your answer.

2. Reading A Cartoon

During the 1880s, when Henry George height and other social reformers were at the height of their careers, newspapers and magazines featured articles and cartoons dealing with reforms. Here is one such cartoon, publish in 1887 in the popular magazine Puck. Please study it and answer the following questions:

  1. What would be a good title for this cartoon?
  2. What is its meaning?
  3. Based upon details of the cartoon, what do you think the cartoonists feelings are about the causes of poverty?
  4. What is the significance of the word "theories" near the bottom of the picture?
  5. Have we come closer, since the days of Henry George, to solving the problems of poverty?

3. Reading a Bar Graph on Corporate Landholdings

  1. What are the natural resources with which the above corporations are involved?
  2. Forbes magazine lists each year the "500" -- those corporations that are the largest in sales in this country. How many of the above are in the "500"? Can you draw any conclusions?
  3. What major industries are dependent on the above natural resources?
  4. 4. What natural resources are not included in the above?
  5. 5. Winston Churchill, wartime leader of England, stated, "Land monopoly the mother of all monopoly." How accurate was he?

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