Lesson Plan: Richard Cobden

In this lesson, students will learn about the positive and negative effects of free trade, as well as the 19th century British politician and businessman who helped transform Britain into a free-trading nation.

Sean Kinnard — Aug 30, 2022

You can find a PDF of this lesson plan here.

Featured article: Heroes of Progress, Pt. 9: Richard Cobden by Alexander C. R. Hammond

Warm-up

Have you ever heard of Richard Cobden? Probably not. Watch this short video about him from HumanProgress.org.

In partners, in small groups, or as a whole class, answer these questions:

What was the prevailing economic system that Cobden was advocating against?
Which powerful groups in Great Britain do you think were opposed to repealing the Corn Laws? Why do you think these groups were opposed to revoking them?
What parallels do you see between the Corn Laws and tariffs on imported products today?

How much do you know about free trade? Why do most economists and policymakers think free trade is such a good thing? What are some of the downsides of free trade? Watch this video and then answer the following questions.

How is free trade an extension of a free-market economy?
Think about the many ways that free trade benefits consumers, companies, and the economies of entire countries. Complete the chart below.

Aspect of free trade	How does this aspect of free trade *benefit* consumers, companies, and whole economies?
Comparative advantage
Specialization
Efficiency
Economies of scale
Competition

Now reflect on how free trade harms consumers, companies, and the economies of entire countries. Complete the chart below.

Aspect of free trade	How does this aspect of free trade *harm* consumers, companies, and whole economies?
Dependency
Overspecialization
Dumping
Race to the bottom
Competition

Questions for reading, writing, and discussion

Read the article, then answer the following questions:

Think about context. What was going on in Britain in the early 19th century that allowed Richard Cobden to become rich in such a short time?
Why is it significant that Cobden ended up in Manchester after he had made his fortune?
What happened in 1840–1842 that convinced many people that the Corn Laws should be thrown out?
Which socioeconomic group benefited the most from the repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846?
What were the short- and long-term historical effects of the free trade agreement that Cobden negotiated with France?

Extension Activity/Homework

Take a Stand on Free Trade

First, read this 2016 article from Harvard Business Review about the history of free trade in the United States.

Then, imagine that you are running for senator of your state. As senator, you will be responsible for signing off on any trade treaty negotiated by the president. Your state has a large population and a diverse economy partly based on trade with other countries.

As senator, what will be your position on free trade? Do you think the benefits outweigh the costs? Why or why not?

Write a short essay for the voters of your state explaining your position on free trade. This essay will be published on the op-ed page of the most-read newspaper in your state. Remember that your opponent will refute your position, so include counterarguments and explain why they are wrong.

Analyze a Data Set and Graph

Visual literacy is the ability to create meaning from images. You will practice this skill by analyzing a data set about Trade and Globalization on the website Our World in Data. First, go to the page on Trade and Globalization. Choose one data set you are interested in and look at its accompanying image (e.g., graph, map, or table).

After examining the image and reading its description, answer the following questions:

What information is being presented in the data set and graphic?
What are the patterns of trendlines over time?
What historical developments impacted this data? For example, on the data set showing European exports, there is a sharp dip in 1940–1945 due to World War II.
How is this information important to our understanding of global trade?
Why did you choose to analyze this particular information set?

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FDA Approves First New Antibiotic for Uncomplicated UTIs in Decades

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“The FDA approved gepotidacin for the treatment of uncomplicated UTIs in women and adolescent girls aged 12 years or older, GSK announced.

It is the first new antibiotic for the treatment of uncomplicated UTIs (uUTIs) in nearly 30 years, according to GSK.

The decision to approve gepotidacin, which will be marketed as Blujepa, was supported by positive phase 3 data from the EAGLE-2 and EAGLE-3 trials, which demonstrated the antibiotic’s noninferiority to standard-of-care treatment nitrofurantoin.

Data from the EAGLE-2 trial showed treatment success in 50.6% of participants vs. 47% in patients treated with nitrofurantoin, with an adjusted difference in success of 4.3 percentage points.”

From Healio.

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‘The good news is the board has come together and said they’re willing to discuss’ the change, World Bank President Ajay Banga said Thursday at an event in Washington, adding that he expects the move to be included in a broader energy policy proposal expected in June 2026.”

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“Vietnam will allow Elon Musk’s Starlink to provide satellite internet services in the country for a pilot period of five years, with a maximum of 600,000 subscribers, after the government pushed through regulatory changes.

The decision paves the way for SpaceX to invest on a trial basis in telecommunications services using low-orbit satellite technology until Jan. 1 2031, according to a government statement.

There will be no restrictions on foreign ownership and the business will be ‘based on principles that ensure national defense and security,’ the statement said.

It will also allow for internet access at sea and on airplanes, which opens up potential for inflight WiFi on Vietnamese airlines.”

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The United Therapeutics study, which is expected to begin midyear, will start with six patients who have been on dialysis for at least six months but do not have other serious medical problems. There will be a three-month waiting period between each transplant so that doctors can learn from the outcomes.

If the first six transplants are successful, the trial will expand to include up to 50 participants in what is called a phaseless trial — a type of study that combines the traditional Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials and can lead directly to approval…

The eGenesis trial will begin with three patients with kidney failure who are unlikely to receive a human organ within five years.”

From New York Times.