What are Capitalism and Communism, what are the differences between the two, and what

is America’s relationship with Communism?

Identify what Capitalism is, what Communism is, distinguish between the two, and describe

America’s relationship with Communism.

USH.H.6.1USH.H.7.1 USH.H.7.2USH.H.7.3

Each person draws a Dot from the cup. 1. Do not tell anyone what color dot you’ve drawn.

2. Goal for Black Dots is to form largest group of Black Dots possible without any Red Dots.

3. Goal for Red Dots is to become a member of largest Black Dot group possible

4. If you suspect anyone of being a Red Dot, share that information with others.

5. You win if…- You are a part of the largest group of Black dots

without any Red Dots. - You are a lone Red Dot to infiltrate a group of Black

Dots.

1) How did you feel when you discovered you were not a red dot? Or were a red dot?

2) For those who were red dots – how did you convince others you were not a red dot?

3) How did you feel if you were accused of being a red dot?

4)What emotions fueled this activity?

5) Can you think of a time in history when every day citizens may have felt the same way?

How can this help us to understand America’s fear of Communism?

The fight between the two ideas is essentially a game of trust.

Who is a communist? Can we trust other nations?

Can we even trust anyone within our own country?

Let’s find out why this is…

Warm Up:

How do you know when you

can trust someone?

Let’s start with what we know:

What freedoms and rights do

you enjoy as an American?

So what is it?

A. System with basic rights such as freedom

of press, speech, religion, etc.

What do these freedoms allow us to do?

So what is it?

B. A system based on private ownership and

on investment of money in business in

order to make a profit.

Stop and Jot:

What are some of the pros and cons

of Capitalism?

C. Advantages:- You can own property- Individuals can prosper/competition for wages- Freedom of speech, press, religion- Embrace ethnic diversity- Makes the individual work worth something

D. Disadvantages:- Poverty- Not everyone has healthcare- Monopolies- control too much business- Creates inequalities (ex: rich vs. poor, have vs. have not)

So what is it?

A. A system in which goods are owned in

common and are available to all as needed.

Sounds like a perfect world, right?

WRONG, According to the U.S.!

Stop and Jot:

What are some of the pros and cons of Communism?

B. Advantages:- Everyone gets something (equal)- No unemployment - Healthcare for all citizens- Cooperation of the people (work for the country to benefit)

C. Disadvantages:- Abuse of power- Restrictions- no freedom of speech, press, no religious practices - Censorship - Against ethnic diversity - Government controls property- very little if any, could own private property - Individual doesn’t compete, in some ways lazy and does not need to strive for more

Capitalism:

A. Middle Ages:Europe began trading and

selling goods.

Communism:

B. Karl Marx:A German, wrote

Communist Manifesto detailing his idea of the perfect world through

sharing. In your own words explain the differences between the two.

A. Fear: America was afraid

that communism would spread to other

nations then to America, destroying their freedoms and economic system.

COMMUNISM HAD TO BE STOPPED!

B. Response:Capitalism must not pollute the minds of

any Communist citizens. If they know of freedoms they may

revolt.

CAPITALISM MUST BE KEPT OUT!What would be the

result if Canada and Mexico became

Communist?

The main players?

A. United States of America

B. Russia (A.K.A. Soviet Union,

U.S.S.R.)

(Mostly in the U.S.A.)

A. Red Scare:After WWI (When Russia became Communist), the

fear that Russian communists were going to attempt to overthrow the American government,

caused thousands of Russians and socialists in

the U.S. to be arrested and held without trial.

1916 – 1920’s

Sidenotes:

- Communists are often called Reds after the

Russian Army (the Red Army).

What could be some of the possible outcomes of this fear?

Witch hunts ensue!!

B. Palmer Raids:U.S. State Department becomes obsessed with threat of Communism.

They raid homes searching for evidence

of connections to Communism and arrest many innocent suspects.

1916 – 1920’s

C. Sacco and Vanzetti:

Two immigrants suspected of being

communist. They are executed for the death of

a factory owner. However, they were actually innocent.

1916 – 1920’s

Now that we know this, what are the consequences of this

fear?

D. Scottsboro Boys:Nine African American teenagers accused of raping a white girl in Alabama. Communist Party comes to their defense and helps to

appeal the case.

America fears that Communists may gain

popularity among African Americans.

1930’s

E. World War II:

Russia, a main ally to the U.S. After the war it

begins to take over smaller, weaker

Eastern European nations and

Communism quickly spreads. Leads to 2nd

Red Scare.

1940’s

A. Cold War:Over 30 years of back

and forth threats between the United

States and Russia. Often including talks of using

nuclear weapons to destroy each other.

Eventually Communism stops working and

Russia’s empire crumbles.

1950’s-1990’s

Using the cartoon passed out, work with a partner to answer:

1) How is this cartoon critical of the government’s actions

during its fear of Communism?2. Is the cartoon convincing? Why?

3. Do you think the government’s actions were appropriate during this time period? Why or why not?

4. Assume you are creating a cartoon in support of the government’s actions during this time – what message or symbols would you employ? Why?

1) What is Capitalism? How is it different from Communism?

2) What evidence proves that America does not have a good relationship with Communism?

3) Create a new caption for the cartoon below.