# In Our Hands, Part 1: How We Got What We Have

Part 1 of 4 of "In Our Hands". From the How We Live in America Series. Anti-communist, pro-capitalist film espousing the political freedom and economic progress that comes from the accumulation of privately owned tools of production. Demonstrates the need for tools by showing a young couple with their infant child in a wilderness with nothing but natural resources and their hands. Titles on leader: 3730A American Foundation Long version in four parts. Synopsis from study guide inside can: The introductory scenes present a contract between our own American form of government and the kind of government run by a "strong man," a dictator. The narrator makes this statement: One worker out of five lives close to the land on our six million farms and ranches. The other four work away from the land. The title of the film is put in question form, "How did we get what we have?" All our wealth — our farms, industries, and homes — everything is wiped away. Tom, Midge and their baby — a 20th century family — find themselves alone in the wilderness, without equipment of any kind. Tom tries to provide for man's basic needs, shelter (a cave) and food (wild berries and roots). He is at a disadvantage trying to get food with his bare hands. He catches two fish, but lacking a knife he can't clean them; lacking matches he can't male a fire to cook them. Tom finds a man who has a fire and a knife. In exchange for a fish, he is willing to let Tom use his fire and knife. After a fist fight, they…

- Kind: Film
- Year: 1950
- By: Wilding Picture Productions, Inc., Jack Tilles, James Prindle
- Genres: Industrial and advertising
- Archive: [Internet Archive](https://archive.org/details/201384_In_Our_Hands_How_We_Got_What_We_Have)
- Licence or status: none stated by the archive
- Who can watch: Tweens profiles and older (the archive gives no rating; placed by Invisible Network from its collection and subjects)

[Watch now](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/watch/archive/ia/201384_In_Our_Hands_How_We_Got_What_We_Have?play=1)