Gansters, scoundrels, and thieves – teaching economics using nefarious historical characters
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Teaching the concept of product differentiation using Gold Rush confidence man 'Soapy' Smith; presented at UNCW Economics Teaching Conference October 2016
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Gansters, scoundrels, and thieves – teaching economics using nefarious historical characters
- 1. GANSTERS, SCOUNDRELS, AND THIEVES – TEACHING ECONOMICS USING NEFARIOUS HISTORICAL CHARACTERS Alice Louise Kassens Roanoke College Soapy Smith
- 2. Storytelling in the classroom • History is rich with stories that bring economic principles to life • Captivate audience/memorable class experience • Improve retention of ideas/learning • Added pleasure to teaching • People love “bad guys” • Share a story I learned while on a class trip to Alaska • Provide context/background • Apply economic principle(s) • Share resources Soapy Smith
- 3. The Story: Klondike Gold Rush and Soapy Smith Panic of 1893 Several factors led to the panic of 1893 and the subsequent recession Thousands of banks, businesses, and farms failed; stock market plunged People lost jobs, savings Unemployment high (ex. Michigan 43%, New York 35%, Pennsylvania 25%) Soup kitchens opened to feed the destitute, starving
- 4. The Story: Klondike Gold Rush and Soapy Smith Gold in the Yukon Gold discovered in Canadian Yukon Territory in 1896 Opportunity cost of staking your claim low for those suffering the effects of the recession Between 1896 and 1899 an estimated 100,000 prospectors began the journey to Dawson Spent last dime or borrowed to get there dream of staking claim gave hope to many
- 5. The Story: Klondike Gold Rush and Soapy Smith Getting to Dawson Three ways to make the trip: All water (rich man’s route) Skagway/Dyea (poor man’s route) All Canada Poor man’s route included a choice: Skagway and White Pass Dyea and Chilkoot Pass
- 6. The Story: Klondike Gold Rush and Soapy Smith Getting to Dawson Three ways to make the trip: All water (rich man’s route) Skagway/Dyea (poor man’s route) All Canada Poor man’s route included a choice: Skagway and White Pass Dyea and Chilkoot Pass
- 7. The Story: Klondike Gold Rush and Soapy Smith Chilkoot Pass Trail Chilkoot Trail 33 miles from Dyea to Bennett, British Columbia Originally a trading route for Tlingit Chilkoot Pass (point 7) through Boundary Range of Coastal Mountains into Canada Highest point on Trail (3,057 feet) Canadian officials required 1,000 pounds of supplies to cross into Canada over the Pass (food and equipment)
- 8. The Story: Klondike Gold Rush and Soapy Smith Chilkoot Pass Trail Chilkoot Trail 33 miles from Dyea to Bennett, British Columbia Originally a trading route for Tlingit Chilkoot Pass (point 7) through Boundary Range of Coastal Mountains into Canada Highest point on Trail (3,057 feet) Canadian officials required 1,000 pounds of supplies to cross into Canada over the Pass (food and equipment)
- 9. The Story: Klondike Gold Rush and Soapy Smith Chilkoot Pass Trail Chilkoot Trail 33 miles from Dyea to Bennett, British Columbia Originally a trading route for Tlingit Chilkoot Pass (point 7) through Boundary Range of Coastal Mountains into Canada Highest point on Trail (3,057 feet) Canadian officials required 1,000 pounds of supplies to cross into Canada over the Pass (food and equipment)
- 10. The Story: Klondike Gold Rush and Soapy Smith Chilkoot Pass Trail Chilkoot Trail 33 miles from Dyea to Bennett, British Columbia Originally a trading route for Tlingit Chilkoot Pass (point 7) through Boundary Range of Coastal Mountains into Canada Highest point on Trail (3,057 feet) Canadian officials required 1,000 pounds of supplies to cross into Canada over the Pass (food and equipment)
- 11. The Story: Klondike Gold Rush and Soapy Smith Chilkoot Pass Trail Chilkoot Trail 33 miles from Dyea to Bennett, British Columbia Originally a trading route for Tlingit Chilkoot Pass (point 7) through Boundary Range of Coastal Mountains into Canada Highest point on Trail (3,057 feet) Canadian officials required 1,000 pounds of supplies to cross into Canada over the Pass (food and equipment)
- 12. The Story: Klondike Gold Rush and Soapy Smith White Pass Trail (Dead Horse Trail) Skagway to chain of lakes along Yukon River William Moore and son staked a homesteaders claim ~1890 Easier route than Chilkoot Pass (especially with the completion of the White Pass and Yukon Railroad) ‘Animal killer’ as people pushed horses to their limits (>3,000 died) Dealt with criminal element including Randolph ‘Soapy’ Smith’s gang
- 13. The Story: Klondike Gold Rush and Soapy Smith Skagway Those taking the White Pass Trail to Canada brought their 1,000 pounds of supplies to Skagway First boat of prospectors landed in the summer of 1897 Between 1886 and 1897 the town grew from a population of 2 to over 20,000 “grown from a concourse of tents to a fair-sized town with well-laid-out streets and numerous frame buildings, stores, saloons, gambling houses, dance houses and a population of about 20,000” (NW Mounted Police Report)
- 14. The Story: Klondike Gold Rush and Soapy Smith Skagway Town plotted into 360 lots, each 50 x 100 feet Streets 60 feet wide Suppliers for transient population demands filled the town Large demand for vices of young men At the peak of the rush there were at least 80 saloons in the small town
- 15. The Lesson: Product differentiation Product differentiation How did saloon owners signal their establishment? location prostitutes/dancers gambling “free” food wonders and marvels confidence games
- 16. The Lesson: Product differentiation Product differentiation Soapy Smith and his gang specialized in the confidence game (he developed a reputation across America) One of his Skagway saloons was Jeff.Smiths Parlor Numerous cons to entice unsuspecting visitors into the saloon Given the transient nature of the population, the game was repeatable
- 17. The Lesson: Product differentiation Product differentiation Soapy Smith and his gang specialized in the confidence game (he developed a reputation across America) One of his Skagway saloons was Jeff.Smiths Parlor Numerous cons to entice unsuspecting visitors into the saloon Given the transient nature of the population, the game was repeatable
- 18. The Lesson: Product differentiation Product differentiation Soapy Smith and his gang specialized in the confidence game (he developed a reputation across America) One of his Skagway saloons was Jeff.Smiths Parlor Numerous cons to entice unsuspecting visitors into the saloon Given the transient nature of the population, the game was repeatable
- 19. Conclusion Share story either before, during, or after lecture on product differentiation Ask students how saloon owners might attract customers and differentiate themselves from their 80+ competitors Plethora of photos, videos available online to put the story in context and bring it to life If Soapy is not your ‘thing’ there are endless Gangsters, Scoundrels, and Thieves to choose from to enrich and embellish your lecture
Editor's Notes
- Drawing of frenzied stockbrokers on May 5, 1893, from Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
- Prospectors in the Yukon (http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/gold-rush/photos/klondike-gold-rush-pictures/)
- Chilkoot trail map 1. Dyea, 2. Finnegan's Point, 3. Canyon City, 4. Pleasant Camp, 5. Sheep Camp, 6. Scales, 7. Chilkoot Pass, 8. Stone Crib, 9. Happy Camp, 10. Deep Lake, 11. Lake Lindemann, 12. Bare Loon Lake, 13. Lake Bennett National Park Service (http://www.nps.gov/klgo/planyourvisit/images/BIGtrailmap.jpg)
- Stampeders pose with their gear on Dyea waterfront in 1897. National Park Service, Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, George and Edna Rapuzzi Collection, KLGO 55746a. Gift of the Rasmuson Foundation. What should you take to the Klondike in 1897-1898? The Northern Pacific Railroad Company published the Chicago Record's Book for Gold Seekers in 1897 and included the following supply list: 150 lbs. bacon 400 lbs. flour 25 lbs. rolled oats 125 lbs. beans 10 lbs. tea 10 lbs. coffee 25 lbs. sugar 25 lbs. dried potatoes 2 lbs. dried onions 15 lbs. salt 1 lb. pepper 75 lbs. dried fruits 8 lbs. baking powder 2 lbs. soda 1/2 lb. evaporated vinegar 12 oz. compressed soup 1 can mustard 1 tin matches (for four men) Stove for four men Gold pan for each Set granite buckets Large bucket Knife, fork, spoon, cup, and plate Frying pan Coffee and teapot Scythe stone Two picks and one shovel One whipsaw Pack strap Two axes for four men and one extra handle Six 8 inch files and two taper files for the party Draw knife, brace and bits, jack plane, and hammer for party200 feet three-eights-inch rope 8 lbs. of pitch and 5 lbs. of oakum for four men Nails, five lbs. each of 6,8,10 and 12 penny, for four men Tent, 10 x 12 feet for four men Canvas for wrapping Two oil blankets to each boat 5 yards of mosquito netting for each man 3 suits of heavy underwear 1 heavy mackinaw coat 2 pairs heavy machinaw trousers 1 heavy rubber-lined coat 1 dozen heavy wool socks 1/2 dozen heavy wool mittens 2 heavy overshirts 2 pairs heavy snagproof rubber boots 2 pairs shoes 4 pairs blankets (for two men) 4 towels 2 pairs overalls 1 suit oil clothing Several changes of summer clothing Small assortment of medicines
- Hegg, E.A (1867-1948) - This image is available from Library and Archives Canada under the reproduction reference number C-005142 and under the MIKAN ID number 3192704