Capitalism
The emergence of capitalism reshaped the entire planet. These classroom-ready lessons help students examine the conditions that led to capitalism's emergence as a dominant global system, and how its clash with socialism had a profound impact on societies. Engaging activities, primary sources, and videos enable deeper understanding of complex economic ideas while building historical thinking skills.
How to Teach Capitalism
Teacher Ideas to Explain Economic Systems
Students experience the difference between capitalism and socialism in a simulation, but how can we help them with a nuanced view of socialism vs. communism?
PD Event: How We Made the Modern World
Explore the connection between capitalism and our industrialized modern world. Leave with tips to engage students in historical thinking: Are we still in an Industrial Revolution?
Blog: Teaching Globalization
Understand post-World War II capitalism as a driver of global connection—and its promise and challenges.
Reading
Dig into texts that reveal how European powers ran their empires like businesses with reading strategies that get students the most bang for their buck.
Teach Tomorrow: Lessons on Capitalism
Lesson 5.5
Economic Systems and the Working Class
Industrial capitalism created dramatic divisions between rich and poor. Those forced to sell their labor for wages became known as the working class. New class relationships created new political and economic ideologies, such as socialism.
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Lesson 4.2
Capitalism and Socialism
Capitalism created new wealth and new struggles. Competing economic ideas offered different answers to the question of who should benefit from labor, and why it matters.
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Capitalism Activities and Resources
Overview of New Economic Systems
Article
Overview of New Economic Systems
Europeans combined and built on Afro-Eurasian ideas about credit, interest, and banking to help organize big trading voyages. This led to the emergence of capitalism.
Economic Systems Simulation
Activity
Economic Systems Simulation
In this game-based activity, you’ll see how capitalism and socialism approach opportunity and reward—and what it feels like to be on different sides of the system.
The Global Economy
Article
The Global Economy
The global economy made it possible for people to have everything from headphones to houses. Explore how it got so complex, and what the future might hold.
Smith, Marx, and Keynes
Article
Smith, Marx, and Keynes
These three important economists developed economic models that define and drive the modern world.
Making Claims: Capitalism and Socialism
Closer
Making Claims: Capitalism and Socialism
In this activity, you’ll practice making strong claims and counterclaims using what you’ve learned about capitalism and socialism.
Capitalism and Slavery
Article
Capitalism and Slavery
Slaving and slavery existed alongside capitalism. But were they rival economic systems? Or did they support each other?
Writing Assessments for Capitalism
Pre-Writing: Industrialization in the Long Nineteenth Century
Assessment
Pre-Writing: Industrialization in the Long Nineteenth Century
Get ready for writing by crafting a claim and gathering supporting evidence to decide how industrial capitalism impacted society.
DBQ Sources: Industrialization in the Long Nineteenth Century
Assessment
DBQ Sources: Industrialization in the Long Nineteenth Century
Analyze these sources and gather evidence to support your argument about the effects of capitalism on society.
Writing: Industrialization in the Long Nineteenth Century
Assessment
Writing: Industrialization in the Long Nineteenth Century
Time to write! Demonstrate your understanding of the effects of industrial capitalism by creating a written argument in response to the prompt.
