Name:

______________

You are a bourgeois capitalistwhat would you do?

Period: _______

Directions: You are a bourgeois capitalist (an upper class businessman). You
own a company that has several factories, and so you earn lots of capital
(money). Because of this, you have economic power, especially over
proletariats (workers), so all your actions will affect them. However, you
really love capital, and want more of it. There is nothing stopping you from
making money because the government isnt interfering with your business
by taxing you or by forcing you to follow any rules. But there are still
problems that come about when running a business. For each of the
following scenarios, explain what choices you would make and why. Your
proof should include a discussion of how much money it costs for each
choice.
Scenario 1:
1783 - Your factory in London, England makes textiles (specifically, you
make a thick cloth that can be used for tablecloths, window shades, piano
covers, laundry bags, etc.), and you have just heard of a new invention by an
engineer named James Watt. It is a steam engine, which can make a
machine move on its own without a human turning a wheel or pressing a
pedal. This can help save you money, because if you can replace some of
your workers with a steam engine, you can save money. The engine will cost
you $10,000, but you will be able to fire 17 workers who earn $1 a day. The
machine is supposed to last for 30 years before it breaks. Will you buy the
machine and fire your 17 workers or keep your workers and not buy the
machine?
Your choice and explanation:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
If you were a worker, what would you want the government to do to help in
this situation?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

Name:
______________

You are a bourgeois capitalistwhat would you do?

Period: _______

Directions: You are a bourgeois capitalist (an upper class businessman). You own a
company that has several factories, and so you earn lots of capital (money).
Because of this, you have economic power, especially over proletariats (workers), so
all your actions will affect them. However, you really love capital, and want more of
it. There is nothing stopping you from making money because the government isnt
interfering with your business by taxing you or by forcing you to follow any rules.
But there are still problems that come about when running a business. For each of
the following scenarios, explain what choices you would make and why. Your proof
should include a discussion of how much money it costs for each choice.

Scenario 2:
1812 - You own a company that makes rifles. Your guns work well, and you
have just learned that the British military is going to team up with the
nations of Austria, Spain, Prussia, The Dutch Republic, and Portugal to try to
fight against Napoleon. The British military is now accepting proposals from
several gun companies to make new rifles for its army, and you submit a
contract and your company gets chosen! They will buy your rifles for $15
each, and will need 20,000 of them. It costs you $5 to make one rifle. Over
the next 9 months, you make the 20,000 guns, but when one of them is
tested, the worker who tested it got his thumb blown off. The rifles dont
work. Do you still sell them to the army or not?
Your choice and explanation:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
If you were a worker, what would you want the government to do to help in
this situation?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Name:
_____________________________________________________________________________
______________

You are a bourgeois capitalistwhat would you do?

Period: _______

Directions: You are a bourgeois capitalist (an upper class businessman). You own a
company that has several factories, and so you earn lots of capital (money).
Because of this, you have economic power, especially over proletariats (workers), so
all your actions will affect them. However, you really love capital, and want more of
it. There is nothing stopping you from making money because the government isnt
interfering with your business by taxing you or by forcing you to follow any rules.
But there are still problems that come about when running a business. For each of
the following scenarios, explain what choices you would make and why. Your proof
should include a discussion of how much money it costs for each choice.

Scenario 3:
1880 - You own a factory that makes textiles (mostly a soft cloth that can be
used for hats, scarves, jackets, shirts, pants, etc.). One worker makes $20
worth of cloth each hour, and they work for 12 hours a day in 2 shifts (to
keep your factory open 24 hours a day). The workers keep coming to the
factory managers complaining that it is too hot and dark in the workroom
and they keep passing out. Plus, it seems dangerous that the oil lamps
(which provide the light) can easily catch the factory on fire because little
pieces of cloth are constantly flying through the air. The manager comes to
you to see if you will install a fire escape ($200), one more floor on top of the
building so there can be fewer machines on each floor ($10,000), a sprinkler
system in case of a fire ($4,000), and for the workers to get one hour breaks
each shift. If the building burns down, it will cost you $40,000 and take two
years to rebuild it. Do you risk the building fire, or make the changes to the
building?
Your choice and explanation:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
If you were a worker, what would you want the government to do to help in
this situation?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Name:
_____________________________________________________________________________
______________

You are a bourgeois capitalistwhat would you do?

Period: _______

Directions: You are a bourgeois capitalist (an upper class businessman). You own a
company that has several factories, and so you earn lots of capital (money).

Because of this, you have economic power, especially over proletariats (workers), so
all your actions will affect them. However, you really love capital, and want more of
it. There is nothing stopping you from making money because the government isnt
interfering with your business by taxing you or by forcing you to follow any rules.
But there are still problems that come about when running a business. For each of
the following scenarios, explain what choices you would make and why. Your proof
should include a discussion of how much money it costs for each choice.

Scenario 4:
1848 The proletariats in cities all across Europe are complaining about a
class struggle between the rich and the poor. The factory you own makes
iron cannons for the British military. Your workers have begun forming a
union so they can go on strike if you dont give them more rights and safety.
They complain that they get burned by the hot ovens that melt the iron, but
you wont let them leave to go to the hospital or else they will get fired. They
also want to be able to take 10 sick days a year, only work 6 days a week
instead of 7, and be paid $1 per hour instead of what they currently make
($0.50 per hour). There are 200 employees in the factory for each 12-hour
shift, and each individual worker earns your company $15 for an hour of
work. You can fire all your workers, but it will take you about three months to
hire and train a whole new workforce. Do you give in to their demands, or do
you fire them and lose money for three months while youre training the new
staff who wont complain so much?
Your choice and explanation:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
If you were a worker, what would you want the government to do to help in
this situation?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________