SYSK's 12 Days of Christmas… Toys: How Monopoly Works

The board game Monopoly is widely recognized as a symbol of capitalism and competitive enterprise, but the game's origins are deeply rooted in early 20th-century progressive ideas and the teachings against the very capitalism it now seems to glorify.

Monopoly Began As "Landlord's Game," Created by Lizzie Magie to Teach Georgism and Capitalism's Pitfalls

Monopoly took shape under the original title "Landlord's Game," an invention of Lizzie Magie, crafted to educate players on the pitfalls of land grabbing and the negative aspects of capitalism. It was intended to be a practical demonstration of the economic philosophy of Georgism, which advocates for a single tax on land value to curb speculative land monopolies.

Game Highlighting Monopolies' Drawbacks by Lizzie Magie

Josh Clark points out that Magie called her creation the 'game of life' during an interview with a leftist magazine. The original game board bore a resemblance to the modern Monopoly board. Magie's game became a tool for educating people on the economic disadvantages of monopolies and offered a critique of the relentless pursuit of personal wealth.

Game Featured two Sets of Rules

In addition to creating a provocative board layout, Lizzie Magie established two distinct sets of rules for the Landlord’s Game—one set highlighted individual wealth accumulation, exacerbating inequalities, while the other set promoted community success and wealth-sharing. This dual-rule structure was an innovative approach to demonstrate the stark contrast between greedy capitalism and a more cooperative economic system.

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The beloved board game of Monopoly, which has become a household name, underwent significant commercialization by Charles Darrow during the Great Depression before being sold to Parker Brothers.

Charles Darrow, a Salesman During the Great Depression, Commercialized the Game, Selling It to Parker Brothers

Charles Darrow was taught the game by a friend named Todd, who had learned it from the Quaker community in Atlantic City. Darrow, however, merely copied and packaged the existing game to sell for his own profit. Initially, Parker Brothers rejected the game when Darrow presented it to them. Only after Darrow began selling the game successfully at a department store did Parker Brothers decide to buy the rights from him.

Parker Brothers Rejected the Game, Then Bought Rights From Darrow After Success

Parker Brothers initially refused to accept the game from Darrow, but witnessing its popularity and successful sales, they changed their minds and purchased the rights to the game from him.

Parker Brothers Hid the Game's Origins, Claiming It As Darrow's Creation Despite Earlier Evidence

Parker Brothers had to obtain a patent from Lizzie Magie, the originator of the game, after buying the rights from Darrow. To do this, they gave her a lump sum of money and agreed to sell some of her other game ideas, although none of them became popular, and her significant role in the game’s origins was largely obscured. Chuck Bryant highlights that the game's representation with the character Milburn Pennybags (later known as Mr. Monopoly) is a later invention, hinting at Parker Brothers' efforts to reshape the game's history.

Monopoly's Success Led To Themed Versions by Parker Brothers/Hasbro

Due to the game’s commercial success, Parker Brothers, and later Hasbro, have released countless themed versions. Themed Monopoly games ha ...

Chuck Bryant and Josh Clark delve into the strategy and mechanics of Monopoly, describing how the board game includes different properties on a square board, two dice, and various tokens, including the addition of a cat token in 2013.

Monopoly Gameplay: Purchase Properties, Collect Rents, Bankrupt Opponents

The hosts discuss the fundamental components and gameplay of Monopoly, where players aim to financially dominate their opponents.

Game Mechanics: Players Start With Money, Take Turns Rolling Dice, Move Around the Board, and Buy Properties

Players begin the game with a certain amount of play money, $1500 each as designated by the selected banker. They take turns by rolling two dice to determine who goes first and move around the board starting from the 'Go' square. According to the rules, players move clockwise around the 40-square board, which includes 28 properties they can purchase. These properties also consist of Utility companies and four Railroads.

When landing on a property, players can choose to buy it or, if they decline, the property is auctioned, allowing all players to bid on it. Properties can be mortgaged when a player is in debt, with a specific note that mortgaging individual properties within a set is allowed without disrupting the monopoly.

Complete Property Sets Allow Higher Rents and Buildings

Title deed cards are essential as they detail the rent due with respect to the number of houses or hotels on a property. Owning all properties within a color group allows the owner to charge double the rent, although the hosts mention that they sometimes play by charging single rent. Once a player has a monopoly, they can build houses and, eventually, hotels on their properties, which increases the rent they collect from opponents. The hosts note a strategy among seasoned players is to improve monopolies strategically, often by stopping at three houses to prevent over-improvement.

Monopoly Strategies: Property Acquisition, Avoiding Costly Properties, Strategic Jail Time Use

An experienced player advises to buy everything possible, maintain minimal cash on hand, trade for any monopoly—even if it seems unfavorable—and mortgage all other properties to build on the monopoly as quickly ...

Ralph Anspach, an economics professor, created a game called "Anti-Monopoly" and won a landmark legal battle against Parker Brothers, uncovering the true origins of Monopoly in the process.

Ralph Anspach Created "Anti-Monopoly" to Challenge Monopoly

In the 1970s, Ralph Anspach, an economics professor at San Francisco State, created "Anti-Monopoly," a game designed to emphasize the importance of a free market and the dangers of monopolies.

Anti-Monopoly Highlights Dangers of Monopolies and Free Market Importance

The game, which differed from Monopoly by being designed to break up monopolies instead of building them, has players start with monopolies and work towards indictments against monopolized businesses to return the board to a free market system. Chuck Bryant notes that "Anti-Monopoly" allowed players to choose between being a monopolist or a competitor.

Anspach Won Supreme Court Case Against Parker Brothers Over Right to Sell Anti-Monopoly

After its successful launch with about 200,000 copies sold, Parker Brothers noticed "Anti-Monopoly" and sent a cease and desist letter to Anspach. Despite the financial challenge and threat of litigation from Parker Brothers, Anspach fought back. His legal battle went all the way to the Supreme Court, where he triumphed and secured the right to continue selling "Anti-Monopoly" under its original name.

Anspach Revealed Monopoly's Origins and Parker Brothers' Concealment of Its Socialist Roots ...