After you have watched the video as a class, respond to the following question. Do you feel that there should be a disclaimer telling people of the "not so good ways" that some of the Robber Barons made their money? To explain this a little further, according to the conspicuous consumption and the idea of Social Darwinism, they had wealth because they deserved it. Take the position of the person you were assigned from the "Who Am I Activity". How would they have responded to this video of a Biltmore Christmas?
(One paragraph response written from the perspective of your person. Be sure to Identify who you are by signing it as your character...and then your first name!)
(Boss Tweed)
ReplyDeleteI am beyond amazed by the Vanderbilt house. The detailed parts of each and every room in the mansion are stunning. The fact that it took 6 years and so many men to built it makes it even more valuable. I am falling in love with the idea of having a mansion that enormous. I only have 6 kids and 1 wife but i'm sure we would make a mansion of that size a lovely home.
Meg
This is a perfect example of what i believe in. If a man has the assets to afford a house this lavish then i support it 100%. My "Acres of Diamonds" explains that your duty as a man is to become rich. And obviously George Vanderbilt followed the principles that i explain in my speeches. He became rich so he has fulfilled his duty and is in the highest class of society, and this is what is expected of wealthy individuals.
ReplyDelete-Russel Conwell/Devon
Oliver Hudson Kelley
ReplyDeleteDavid
I disagree with his excessive wealth. He has cheated people and farmers out of land and labor and he gets to enjoy his mansion while thousands suffer. Farmers are the heart of this country and they are the ones that should have this wealth, not some city slicker. His house is too big for any man. I don't like how much he shows his wealth.
Wow, what a beautiful masterpiece! I think this house is right on point. I say, if you have the money, use it and spoil yourself. My only change to this mansion would be to make it bigger and better.
ReplyDeleteIf you're rich and have the money to live like a royal, you should spend it all and treat yourself. I can see that Vanderbilt has done so and I like that way he thinks.
-John D. Rockefeller
Lora
This is Mary Elizabeth Lease and I feel that this house was completely unnecessary and unneeded why would anyone even want a house this size? Just the thought of this rich man makes me sick. He has 43 bathrooms he would never even use all of those. I know that he had to spend a boat load of money for this house and he could of spent it helping others or for better rights for the people.
ReplyDeleteMary Elizabeth Lease
(Cole)
I think Cornelius Vanderbilt had things way too easy. The reason he was so rich was because he didn't care about anything but himself. There were people getting their ears frozen off working and he has a separate house for his kids. I don't agree with having a house this big when people are getting ripped off from Vanderbilt.
ReplyDeleteUpton Sinclair
Alex
I love the house. You are definitely living lavishly! It is a symbol of your success and your wealth. If you have the money to build something like this, why not? You can do what you want. Enjoy your estate and all of its luxuries. You have earned it. I hope you will host a party soon.
ReplyDeleteThomas Mellon
Collin
(Philip Armour)
ReplyDeleteThis house is a true testament to the power of wealth. The size of this house shows the honor money brings to us. The size of this house shows the work we have dedicated to the fortune our companies that we built up from nothing. I marvel at the sheer size of this house.
Jacob
I don't think that the Vanderbilt's needed that big of a house. It was a waste of money and 6 years to build that when they could have just lived in a normal house. He cheated people out of a lot of money and I don't think that is right. The reason why I think the house was a waste was because there was a lot of labor involved in making it.
ReplyDelete-Samuel Gompers
Tyler
Karl Marx
ReplyDeleteRachel
There should definitely be a disclaimer telling people of how Robber Barons made their money. He made his money by scamming workers out of equal pay. If the labor workers are doing all the work why should they not get paid full value or share the profit with the owner? After all he only gave instructions on what to do and has ownership. Labor Workers are the ones who did all the hard work and instead of living comfortably they get to watch him live a life of luxury. This is almost like a modern-time slavery.
Thomas Nast
ReplyDeleteAndrew
The mansion the George Vanderbilt made was completely unnecessary. His father, Cornelius Vanderbilt, made his money from the railroads and by scamming people. He gave little pay to his workers and he took land from people to make more railroads. He also cheated off some of his own partners by betraying them. His son's life of luxury started after the work of his father and the cost of many people that his father scammed and betrayed.
I can't believe that 3 people should own a home of that size. I don't see it being very cosy for them either when it may be hard for one of that family to even see another all day! Many of us of the working class have to struggle just to live in the poorest of conditions. Often times, even the children must work just to help pay for rent and food. And because the children are willing to work for less money and are happy to get a job just about anywhere, the number of unemployed adults increases. It just sickens me that one man would own such a lavish home and numerous unnecessary decorative pieces while others are starving. In fact, selling only a few things alone would probably put those who spent the money wisely in good shape for quite some time.
ReplyDelete-Mother Jones
Malachi
I don't think that building that big of a house was necessary. For only 3 people to be living there, that's ridiculous. He could have used his money to help help the people that weren't very wealthy. No people of the union would like this.
ReplyDelete-Eugene V. Debs
Kaylee
I think that the Vanderbilt estate is extremely excessive. No one should live in this much luxury while others have nothing. The slaves in this house are the ones who make this luxurious lifestyle possible for the Vanderbilts, while they sit around with so much money that the best thing they can come up with to spend it on is this lavish mansion that they don't need.
ReplyDeleteBooker T. Washington
Paige
I think the Vanderbilt mansion is over the top. They don't need all that room, and they probably have african american slaves in the house too, which goes against everything I have been working for. They could of used some of that money to donate to a worthy cause instead of spending it all on a house. In my opinion they should of not even bought the house and buy cheaper homes for less fortunate people.
ReplyDeleteW.E.B. DuBois
Brady
When little George told me about the about his new house I was so proud of him. It was so awesome I wanted to go there every day after words to be surprised by a new room that I hadn’t found before. This was probably the best use of money that I’ve ever seen, aside from the indoor water slide. The next time I saw him and told him how much better then he was doing then the first George did.
ReplyDeleteCornelius Vanderbilt
Alex Kaminski
When little George told me about his new house I was so proud of him. It was so awesome I wanted to go there every day just to be surprised by a new room that I hadn’t found before. This was probably the best use of money that I’ve ever seen, aside from the indoor water slide i bought last year. The next time I saw him and told him how much better then he was doing then the first George did.
ReplyDeleteCornelius Vanderbilt
Alex Kaminski
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