AP US History Applying Document Skills

Using intellectual stimulus to better understand terms / concepts

Gospel of Wealth = investing fortunes back into society Philanthropy = donating money charitably to good causes

Social Darwinism = accumulating wealth without conscience …“Machiavellian” attitudes / actions evident

Social Gospel = consistent charitable / moral lifestyle …epitomized by generosity toward others in work + leisure time

“Great minds discuss ideas Meaning / Interpretation Average minds discuss events Small minds discuss people”

- Eleanor Roosevelt

“No one can make you feel inferior Meaning / Interpretation without your consent” - Eleanor Roosevelt

“People grow through experience if they Meaning / Interpretation meet life honestly and courageously. This is how character is built.”

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Paraphrasing and interpreting text leads to understanding … subtext.

Mr. Businessman - Ray Stevens 1968

Itemize the things you covetAs you squander through your lifeBigger cars, bigger houses,Term insurance for your wifeTuesday evenings with your harlotAnd on Wednesdays it's your charlatanAnalyst, he's high upon your list

You’ve got air conditioned sinusesAnd dark disturbing doubt about religionAnd you keep those cards and letters going outWhile your secretary’s tempting youYour morals are exempting you from guilt and shameHeaven knows you're not to blame

You better, Take care of business Mr. BusinessmanWhat's your plan?Get down to business Mr. Businessman if you canBefore it's too lateAnd you throw your life away

Text – Context – Subtext

Text = American Businessman can afford luxury and has authority / power

Context = 1960s Economic Boom

Subtext = Critical or Supporting ? …explain…

Did you see your children growing up todayAnd did you hear the music of their laughterAs they set about to playDid you catch the fragrance of those roses in your gardenDid the morning sunlight warm your soul, Brighten up your dayDo you qualify to be aliveOr is the limit of your senses so as only to survive

Spending counterfeit incentiveWasting precious time and healthPlacing value on the worthlessDisregarding priceless wealthYou can wheel and deal the best of themAnd steal it from the rest of themYou know the score, their ethics are a bore

Eighty-six proof anesthetic crutches prop you to the topWhere the smiles are all syntheticAnd the ulcers never stopWhen they take that final inventory, Yours will be the same sad story everywhereNo one will really care, no one more lonely thanThis rich important man, lets have your autographEndorse your epitaph

Applying Terms / Concepts

Match the philosophic terms with the quotes given below: Gospel of Wealth Philanthropy Social Darwinism Social Gospel

(1)…”it is only natural for skilledintelligent people to compete,accumulate material wealth,and enjoy the privilege of power”

(2) …”accumulating wealth requires a business leader to invest their fortunes in great humanitarian enterprises for the good of society”

(3)…”people with talents and skills should share their knowledge andtime with others to help them to bemore successful and enjoy life”

Richard Cory - Edwin Arlington Robinson 1897

Whenever Richard Cory went down town,We people on the pavement looked at him:He was a gentleman from sole to crown,Clean favored, and imperially slim.

And he was always quietly arrayed,And he was always human when he talked; But still he fluttered pulses when he said,'Good-morning,' and he glittered when he walked.

And he was rich - yes, richer than a king -And admirably schooled in every grace:In fine, we thought that he was everythingTo make us wish that we were in his place.

So on we worked, and waited for the light,And went without the meat, and cursed the bread; And Richard Cory, one calm summer night,Went home and put a bullet through his head.

Text = document content

Context = time period issues

Subtext = message / meaning

"Money“ - Pink Floyd 1973

Money, get awayGet a good job with more pay and your O.K.Money it's a gasGrab that cash with both hands and make a stashNew car, caviar, four star daydream,Think I'll buy me a football teamMoney get backI'm all right Jack keep your hands off my stack.

Social Darwinism or Social Gospel

Explain why…

Point of Light - recorded by Randy Travis 1991

All it takes is a point of light,A ray of hope in the darkest night.If you see what's wrong,And you try to make it right,You will be a point of light.

There are heroes whose names we never hearA dedicated army of quiet volunteersReaching out to feed the hungry,Reaching out to save the landReaching out to help their fellow men.

There are dreamers who are making dreams come trueTaking time to teach the children there's nothing they can't do.Giving shelter to the homeless giving hope to those without.Isn't that what this land's all about.

Social Darwinism or Social Gospel

Text = poverty in USA people need help …volunteerism growing…

Context = 1980s USA Liberalism vs Conservativism …supporting George HW Bush’s 1988 campaign theme = “kinder, gentler nation” “thousand points of light”

Subtext = ???

We Shall Be Free - Garth Brooks 1992

This ain't comin' from no prophet Just an ordinary man When I close my eyes I see The way this world shall be When we all walk hand in hand

When the last child cries for a crust of bread When the last man dies for just words that he said When there's shelter over the poorest head We shall be free…

…And when money talks for the very last time And nobody walks a step behind When there's only one race and that's mankind Then we shall be free

Social Darwinism or Social Gospel