Updated post originally written here.
Did you know that the game Monopoly had its beginning as a tool to teach people the reality of business and its impact on human society? The game originally done by Elizabeth Maggie was hoped to be an educational tool. It was so successful that years later Clarence Darrow developed it into the game we know now. Thanks to the game board company Parker Brothers, they were able to settle with Maggie and went to market and sell the game called Monopoly by Clarence Darrow.At this point in time, Monopoly has become the most popular game in the world giving fun and squabbles among friends and family – indeed the object of the game is to be richest.
I wonder though did the aim Maggie to have the game as educational tool in revealing to its players the human cost and evils of monopoly survive?
A look at the game of Monopoly brings in mind the coming out of the United States as a world power. This was the time when the United States came out of a civil war where the industrialised and technologically advance North prevailed over agricultural South. One of the factors that led to the North’s victory was the use of the railway and the telegraph – troops, supplies, information and commands were moved at a fast paced that it helped the North defeat the South. And at the same time this was happening the industrialists came to dominate American business – people like Vanderbilt, Carnegie, Rockerfeller and J.P. Morgan became the Industrialists of the United States.
It is no accident then that aside from real estate the major businesses you can see on the Monopoly board would be the train lines and the utilities – electricity and water. This brings us to J.P. Morgan.
It is said that J.P. Morgan was the inspiration for Uncle Moneypenny or Mr. Monopoly. J.P. Morgan was an astute investment banker who became the owner of railways, four companies in the Monopoly game, US Steel and several electric companies. In an era of unregulated stock exchange and business J.P, Morgan knew how to leverage and how to make a profit. Of interest to us is the story about J.P. Morgan, George Westinghouse, Thomas Edison and Nicholas Tesla.
Tesla was a former employee of Edison, who became his rival as to whose electrical system,would eventually be used by the United States public. Tesla’s partner was Westinghous while Edison’s partner was J.P. Morgan. Edison and Tesla were competing to provide the technology to produce electricity. Edison and Morgan attacked Tesla two ways. Edison did his best to show that Tesla’s technology was dangerous – efforts included electrocution of an elephant and a convict, while Edison’s partner Morgan indirectly attacked the financial viability of Tesla’s project forcing Tesla to sign over his copyright to Westinghouse and future investors. In the end although Tesla and Westinghouse won the Arizona contract. J.P. Morgan was not perturbed though and pursued his financial attack on the company of Westinghouse. He, Morgan, only relented when Westinghouse agreed to lift the copyright from Tesla’s technology. After that Morgan was able to set-up several electric companies across the United States – incidentally one of the utilities in Monopoly was the electric company. As for Edison, Morgan bought controlling shares of the company and took control.
Industrialists and Financiers like J.P. Morgan used technology and money to provide service to a number of Americans. However, at the same time unregulated business led practices that increased profits but neglected the works. The plight of the workers led to a public backlash of big business, prompting the Democrats to field a candidate who was anti-monopoly: anti-Trust .The solutions of Big Business was to back a pro-business candidate who won his name was William Mckinley. It was years later when another political challenger to Big Business rose up, this time from the Republican Party – Theodore Roosevelt. The solution of Big Business was to make him Vice-President. However, in an ironic twist of fate, McKinley was not able to finish his second tern: He was assassinated by one of the victims of Big Business, one of the laid worker from J.P. Morgan’s business empire. With Roosevelt as US President , Anti-trust cases and legislation were implemented. Tycoons like Rockefeller were brought to court, but J.P. Morgan was not – some say this was because at the time he was working with the United States to build the Panama Canal. To be sure though J.P. Morgan was more astute than Rockefeller, his political contacts and clout saved him.
An Aside: Richard Gatling and William Mckinley: The Gatling Gun and American Colonialism
Another piece of technology from the American Civil War was the Gatling Gun. Basically, It was designed to minimise losses by increasing losses on the other side. The automatic gun was so effective in bringing up the enemy’s mortality that it is still being used today. Incidentally, the gatling gun played an important role in the Spanish-American war, enabling Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders to conquer San Juan Hill. American victory over the Spanish gave three new countries to the United States and its President William Mckinley Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines. The Americans gave Cuba freedom; Puerto Rico the protectorate and the Philippines benevolent assimilation, commonwealth and independence with parity rights. Roosevelt eventually became the Vice-President of Mckinley and then President after Mckinley was assassinated by an anarchist, who happened to be an ex-employee of the US industrialists.
Looking at the game Monopoly now brings back more than memories of Big Business but the ascent of the United States from a former British Colony to a Super Power with its own new territories. It was McKinley who decided take the Philippines via Benevolent Assimilation, Commonwealth, and Independence – other former colonies ceded by Spain fared differently Cuba was declared indecent and Puerto Rico was made into a protectorate. Of course Monopoly still allows us to learn how big business operates. Of course, there are anti-trust laws and regulations now but that only means Big Business now are more creative in their ways
When Sir Sonido asked us to research about Monopoly, I learned that the original game that was developed by Elizabeth has two sets of rules: (1) an anti-monopolist set where all the players are rewarded when wealth is created, and (2) a monopolist set, the goal of which was to create monopolies and to crush the opponents. At first, one would think that the anti-monopolist set should prevail but the opposite happened. This only shows the prevailing desire of people in the society to compete and to actually win. However, in my opinion, the real winner is the one who does things not just for himself but also for the benefit of other people.
Maricris Santos
STS THY
2013-70155
It is quite ironic that the purpose of the monopoly nowadays is the opposite of what it was originally intended to be. Originally intended as an educational tool to illustrate the negative aspects of monopoly (the economic practice), monopoly (the game) is now one of the most famous board games worldwide, generating millions of revenue each year. The topic was particularly interesting for me because: (1) I love monopoly as a child; and (2) I really want to know the history of things because there are some aspects of history that is speculative or modified.
I already know the Tesla vs. Edison (AC vs. DC) battle royale beforehand. What I didn’t know is the businessmen backing the prospect of the inventors. The fates of science and technology and business and economics are often intertwined, most especially nowadays where some of the greatest revenue generators are from scientific and technological advances. However, I find it disturbing that some businesspersons only viewed these advancements as profit generators rather than its achievements on the advancement of thought. While the generation of revenue is particularly important, it must not be forgotten that the main purpose of science is not for the production of money but to know and understand the inner workings of the universe.
Terrence Ferdinand S. Nagaño
2015-04845
STS THX
The monopoly game is not just about making a lot of money but also bankrupting your opponents as quickly as possible. Your goal is to have enough money and resources and for everybody else to have nothing. The purpose of monopoly is to teach us how to be strategic in the real life especially in a marketplace. Life’s a game. When everyone else has connived to bring you down, that’s when you give them your trump card to victory.
Ma. Adelle Gia T. Arbo
2012-43846
STS THX
Monopoly is one of my favorite card games. It’s very addicting especially once you have learned it. Learning the history of the game, sometimes makes me think if other popular games also has a deep history about them. I never thought that Elizabeth Maggie intended to use it as a tool for education. It is successful in terms of giving the basic idea of monopoly but for the potential consequences in real life, the players may not think about them since they are focused in winning the game. I now also understand why the monopoly guy is an old man 🙂
Emmanuel Joseph Trinidad
STS THY
2008-78599
Since I was a child, Monopoly’s one of the favorite board games that I play. But when I became a teen, I started to get tired of it. It seems boring, for what you just do is a never ending accumulation of wealth. I mean, what’s the sense? But upon reading this, hey, here’s the sense. So, there is something behind it. Hmm, controversial…
Since I was a child, Monopoly’s one of the favorite board games that I play. But when I became a teen, I started to get tired of it. It seems boring, for what you just do is a never ending accumulation of wealth. I mean, what’s the sense? But upon reading this, hey, here’s the sense. So, there is something behind it. Hmm, seems controversial…
Yzzabel D. Danganan
STS THY
2015-03634
Since I was a child, Monopoly’s one of the favorite board games that I play. But when I became a teen, I started to get tired of it. It seems boring, for what you just do is a never ending accumulation of wealth. I mean, what’s the sense? But upon reading this, hey, here’s the sense. So, there is something behind it. Hmm, controversial…
Yzzabel D. Danganan
STS THY
2015-03634
Since I was a child, Monopoly has been one of the favorite board games that I play. But when I became a teenager, I started to get tired of it. It bores me, for what you just do is a never ending accumulation of wealth. I mean, what’s the sense? But upon reading this, hey, here’s the sense. So, there is something behind it. Hmm, seems controversial and capitalist…
Yzzabel Danganan
STS THY
2015-03634
Monopoly has always been a childhood game I enjoyed playing, up until now. Who would have thought it had a history like this?
Moreover, it just shows the reality that those who are in power are the very ones who will always be in control. That’s how it is before, that’s the reality now. Those in big businesses can manipulate and influence according to their own whims, but I do believe that it’s up to us how we can stand out from this culture and not deal with it passively.
Trillana, Katrina Isabel
2012 – 62482
Monopoly is one of the games that I enjoyed the most when I was a kid. Though I really understand the more detailed rule of the game, somehow I had a background that doing business is a serious and difficult thing to do. It’s also cool how capitalism is depicted in this kind of game. Actually I’m not really sure if I will view capitalism as something bad or as something good but I think in some way it’s benefiting us as a whole, its just that a selected few is benefiting more from it at the expense of the others.
I’ve always enjoyed playing monopoly, not really caring of how it started and what was its purpose before. I had two reasons why, 1. If I knew how it started, everyone will tell me I’m a monopoly addict and 2. Knowing its purpose doesn’t really up or degrade its entertainment value as a board game. But upon hearing its history, I never thought monopoly had some depth. It’s weird how entertainment and fun can blind us sometimes. Well, with that said I would really look like a total addict when I narrate the story of Elizabeth Maggie to my friends. But certainly I would feel enlightened on its purpose to educate, and I would keep that in mind whenever I play the game.
Marc Benedict Talamayan
STS THX
2015-03672
Business is all about strategy. The same can be said in life. The game of monopoly teaches us this important lesson. I find it ironic that greed is ingrained in our society and yet everyone says that it is bad. Everyone wants to be successful and everyone wants to be well off someday. Isn’t that a form of greed? The term is relative. Someone with nothing may say that a middle class person is greedy but a middle class person could also argue that a rich person is greedy. In the end, I believe there is nothing wrong with being ambitious. As long as success is obtained in an honest and honorable manner.
Matthew Chua
2011-14753
STS THX
Growing up playing Monopoly with my cousins, I have always thought that there is something incredibly sadistic about the idea of bankrupting your opponents for your own benefit. The game’s ultimate goal is to acquire all lands available in the marketplace and impose monopolistic rent until your opponents no longer have cash and force them to surrender their own properties. It is troubling that Monopoly board game is a realistic reflection of the society today.
Leana Carlos
2012-78924
STS THY
I have never played Monopoly before but I want to give it a try. I would like to understand why some people love it while others don’t. But when I play it, I will keep in mind its history and its initial goal of educating its players about the negative effects of monopoly. Of course, I’ll enjoy it because it’s just a game after all.
John Steven Magboo
2011-55727
STS THX
Monopoly. A depiction of reality in a board game. I never would have thought that Monopoly has an interesting and meaningful story behind its creation. This simple board game can show the implications of what would become of our society if it is “completely” monopolized. I, for one, love playing monopoly and knowing its history, i can never play again without remembering how it was created. Also, since it is known as the game that can ruin friendships, it’s funny how real that sounds now whenever I recall its history.
^
Chelsie Lauren T. Olaes
2014-13213
STS THY
I’ve played monopoly ever since I was a child. Back then the only thing I know is it was a board game me and my friends play during weekends and my only goal was to own as many property as I can and bankrupt the other players. It never crossed my mind that this board game has this very deep history and that this game was really about MONOPOLY on business. It was quite surprising that monopoly was once used as an educational tool where in mostly all of the people who plays it thinks it’s just a game for entertainment. Thanks to STS I have now a different perspective on the game 🙂
Ericka Rose Forbes
2015-10518
STS THY
I’ve heard about Monopoly a lot of times before, but never really gave it a try. Maybe because I wasn’t really into business or capitalism or those sorts of things. And because I have never actually played the game, I did not know anything about its history either. Who would have known that such a game would have a very deep history? I actually felt bad for what happened to Elizabeth Maggie, too. So maybe in some way, I could help with her goal for making the game in the first place–to educate people. I’d give the game a try to understand what Maggie wants to show as the negative effects of Monopoly. I just hope I won’t fall victim to it.
Marrian Deytiquez
STS THX
I find it fascinating that a board game such as Monopoly holds so much history and meaning in regards to industrialization in the past. However, this is not known by many, which is disheartening because I am sure that the game would garner more appreciation by its players. I think that it would be great if people were to know more about it, as it is still relevant today, and it would give them an understanding of how exactly power plays a part in many businesses.
Margaux Betinna Lim
2012-30637
STS THX
When I was playing Monopoly as a child, I did not realize how much history this game had. I remember playing with my cousins and one of my older cousin made his brother cry from bankruptcy. I look at it as a funny memory, but if you think about it this is no laughing matter. Monopolies do not only crush the livelihood of many people who run small businesses but they could also abuse their power by providing poor service but charge with high prices. It really is interesting to see Monopoly’s history.
Bea Cerojano
2012- 61155
STS THY
On a more technical side of monopolies, in Economics, there are kinds of monopoly. Although monopolies are commonly associated with bad connotations, there is a kind of monopoly that transcends from this bad image. This is called the natural monopolies. Compared to other monopolies, they should naturally exist because if not, it would cause inefficiency. For example in this blog is the gaining of monopoly of J.P. Morgan as electricity provider. This personal achievement of J.P. Morgan was actually also a societal achievement. Imagine if there are two electricity providers in an area: they would be competing and would not be cooperating with each other. Each of them would secure their own electric connection by securing their own wirings. There would be two wirings on the same place instead of just one. The cost of procuring this wirings would be passed to consumers and that would make electric prices higher. A societal cost was avoided by the becoming of a monopoly of J.P. Morgan.
Allen Cruz
2012-32153
STS THX
I remember playing Monopoly with my schoolmates as a kid. I remember the fun, the excitement, the pleasure of acquiring ‘wealth’ and most especially, of winning the game. Reading this article, I was surprised to know the history and real purpose of the game—to expose the ugly truths of monopoly, the exclusive control over a commodity or service. How intellectually designed this game is astonishes me. The game serves as microcosm or a miniature version of a free market society—a society where unequal distribution of wealth is severe and where supposed-to-be publicly provided goods and services are deregulated and privatized, resulting to higher prices that the general public cannot afford. Players of Monopoly, especially the losers, may not feel the effects and consequences of monopoly, hence their entertainment. But in the real world, the losers would suffer from terrible, pitiful living standards, while the winners enjoy the pleasure brought about by their extravagant lives.
Adrian Jericson S. Jimenez
2014-77970
STS THY
My friends have always said that friendship means nothing in a game of Monopoly because of how winning requires one to ruthlessly take assets from other players in order to add to one’s own. To win, one must monopolize essential resources for living such as water and energy. To win, you have to sieze properties regardless of the said properties belong to someone else, you must shut down everyone else to expand your own empire. It is interesting that the game and the behavior that it elicits was actually based on J.P. Morgan’s business strategies. It is even more interesting that everyone must know that this type of behavior is unacceptable, it has persisted throughout history and still manifests in society today in the form of the power hungry and corrupt.
Melissa Exmundo
2012-16897
STS THX
My parents banned me from playing the board game until I was in my teenage years. They most likely thought that it would instill greediness or whatnot during my formative years.
Moreover, it disheartened me when I read about the Edison-Morgan and Tesla-Westinghouse rivalry that took place since showed how even the greatest minds would be indeed be blinded by wealth and power. If you come to think of it, if Edison and Tesla had worked together, they might have created better things that would have helped humanity thrive in our daily lives.
Angelique G. de Castro
2014-21220
My parents banned me from playing the board game until I was in my teenage years. They most likely thought that it would instill greediness or whatnot during my formative years.
Moreover, it disheartened me when I read about the Edison-Morgan and Tesla-Westinghouse rivalry that took place since showed how even the greatest minds would be indeed be blinded by wealth and power. If you come to think of it, if Edison and Tesla had worked together, they might have created better things that would have helped humanity thrive in our daily lives.
Angelique G. de Castro
2014-21220
STS THX
As a child, playing the game of monopoly gives me a sense of pride when you get to control most of the properties in the game. But when we discussed it in class, I kept on shaking my head because I realize that only certain people control everything and take advantage of what is supposed to be for the general public and people to be credited.