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BEFORE YOU WATCH: Capitalism and Socialism – Crash Course World History #33

Use the "Three Close Reads" approach as you watch the video below.
Use the “Three Close Reads” approach as you watch the video below (next in the lineup!). If you want to learn more about this strategy, click here.

First read: preview and skimming for gist

Before you watch, you should skim the transcript first. The skim should be very quick and give you the gist (general idea) of what the video is about. You should be looking at the title, thumbnails, pictures, and first few seconds of the video for the gist.

Second read: key ideas and understanding content

Now that you’ve skimmed the video transcript and taken a quick peek at the video, you should preview the questions you will be answering. These questions will help you get a better understanding of the concepts and arguments that are presented in the video. Keep in mind that when you watch the video, it is a good idea to write down any vocab you read or hear that is unfamiliar to you.
By the end of the second close read, you should be able to answer the following questions:
  1. What’s the difference between mercantile and industrial capitalism?
  2. What role did food and agriculture play in the rise of industrial capitalism?
  3. How did land ownership change in Britain in this period, and how did this affect labor systems?
  4. In what ways is capitalism a “cultural system”?
  5. What were some problems with industrial capitalism? What were two different responses to these problems?
  6. What two types of socialism were there? How did they differ?
  7. According to Marx, what is the significance of conflict and struggle?

Third read: evaluating and corroborating

Finally, here are some questions that will help you focus on why this video matters and how it connects to other content you’ve studied.
At the end of the third read, you should be able to respond to these questions:
  1. To what extent does this video explain the development of economic systems, ideologies, and institutions and how they contributed to change in the period from 1750 to 1900? What evidence does it provide?
  2. At the end of the video, John Green raises the question of whether capitalism is natural. Using evidence from this video and earlier assets, make and defend a claim about whether capitalism is natural.
  3. How would you use the evidence in this video to help you to respond to a question that asked you to evaluate continuity and change in this era?
Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to watch! Remember to return to these questions once you’ve finished watching.

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