Elizabeth Magie Thesis Statement

Who’s That: Elizabeth Magie (Phillips)

General Purpose: To inform

Specific Purpose: My specific purpose is to inform my audience about the true inventor of Monopoly and the surprising story behind the game’s invention.

Thesis: In 1904 Elizabeth Magie received a patent for her Henry George inspired board game about economics, The Landlord’s Game, which later was thieved, and turned into the game of Monopoly. Add in how the game of monopoly has evolved.

Introduction:

I. Attention Getter: According to Hasbro Games, since 1935 over one million people have played the game of Monopoly.
II. Credibility Statement: By the use of research tools and time, I have been able to bring the true history of Monopoly to light.
III. Relating to the Audience:

Main Point One: Elizabeth Magie was inspired by the writings of Henry George to create the Landlord’s Game.
A. Henry George was a political economist well known for his book Progress and Poverty
1. Elizabeth Magie was introduced to these writings by her father and became very passionate about the social and economic justice described in George’s book. (Dodson, 2011)
a. Progress and Poverty is book written by Henry George explaining the idea that poverty cannot be avoided but it occurs because of unfair laws and institutions put into place that restrict people’s equal access to the fruits of nature. (Schalkenbach, 2014)
b. Elizabeth Magie wanted to teach others about Henry George’s principles so she created the Landlord’s Game and as mentioned before received a patent for it in 1904. (Dodson, 2011)
2. Magie describes her game “The Landlord’s Game as, “practical demonstration of the present system of land-grabbing with all its usual outcomes and consequences."
a. The goal of the game is to get as rich as you can. (Forsyth, 2013)
b. Magie created the game as a model for how George’s principles could actually work in real life. (Dodson, 2011)

II. Main point Two: Charles Darrow and the Parker brothers unfairly took the ideas of Elizabeth Magie and turned them into the well known game of today, Monopoly, which has evolved substantially from its creation.
A. The Parker brothers bought Magie’s patent for $500 and told her that they would continue to market her game along with their rendition, Monopoly. (Dodson, 2011)
1. They asked Magie if they could make changes to the game and she said no because she was very passionate about teaching others about Henry George’s principles. (Dodson, 2011)
2. The Parker Brothers published a few new versions of The Landlord’s Game, but they did nothing to market it and it failed. The Parker Brothers in effect, monopolized monopoly.
B. The Parker Bros. game of Monopoly has been a very successful board game, and one of the most, if not the most popular board game ever.
1. Monopoly is available in 111 countries and 43 languages, and over 275 million copies of the game have been sold. (Hasbro 2014)
2. Monopoly Here & Now for iPhone was voted “Best Game inspired by a Board Game” at the 2009 AppAdvice App Awards. (Hasbro