Leonard E. Read's I Pencil

Capitalism can be defined as “when monetary wealth was enabled to buy labor power” (Wolf et al. 77). By the time that “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” was written, Capitalism was the dominant mode of production, and capitalist markets were spreading rapidly. This became especially true in the United States of America, which was heavily influenced by the British in matters of economy. Since capitalism was born in England, the influence of capitalism bled over into America while they were still under British rule (Wolf et al. 2670). However, by 1820, the year that “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” was published, the United States fully adopted the capitalist mode of production, along with the technological advances of the Industrial Revolution. This embrace of the new economic system changed the ways of life for people in both New England and New York, along with the entirety of the country.

Andrew Carnegie believes in a system based on principles and responsibility. The system is Individualism and when everyone strives towards the same goals the system is fair and prosperous. Carnegie’s essay is his attempt to show people a way to reach an accommodation between individualism and fairness. This system can only work if everyone knows and participates in his or her responsibilities. I will discuss Carnegie’s thesis, his arguments and the possible results of his goals.

Accurately established by many historians, the capitalists who shaped post-Civil War industrial America were regarded as corrupt “robber barons”. In a society in which there was a severe imbalance in the dynamics of the economy, these selfish individuals viewed this as an opportunity to advance in their financial status. Thus, they acquired fortunes for themselves while purposely overseeing the struggles of the people around them. Presented in Document A, “as liveried carriage appear; so do barefooted children”, proved to be a true description of life during the 19th century. In hopes of rebuilding America, the capitalists’ hunger for wealth only widened the gap between the rich and poor.

The market model of economy, developed by Adam Smith entails a freely flowing economy that places little or not restriction on occupation allowing individuals utmost rights. America took on an ethos of a mixed economy of market and command that struck a successful economic equilibrium. American economy also changes with different periods of history. The Civil War had lit the spark of industrialization needed to enhance the American economy. Technology advanced by leaps and bounds and free labor was done away with to make room for Industrialization and Adam Smith’s market model of capitalism. Capitalism was a promoter of the entrepreneur and individual success. It was only natural that during this time of private interest the gap between rich and poor would be greatly widened and a state of disorder might arise. Capitalism was a new ideology and drastic labor problems and social disorder arose because Americans were simply adjusting to (and taking advantage of) the new system.

During the rise of industrialization, the United States had just ended the Civil War and was starting to move on. People had an aspiration at this time to make a more than decent living for themselves, and the economy was at the right spot for this to be possible. This time period in American History is referred to as the Gilded Age, termed by the famous author Mark Twain, which simply means covered in gold; however, Twain did not necessarily mean this in a good way. He believed right under the surface of this gold plating was still problems with the American society that didn’t look so appealing. This essay will discuss how practices during the rise of industrialization during the Gilded Age shaped the American work and labor force.

In this chapter, Howard Zinn focuses on the robber barons and rebels of the 19th century. Robber Barons were businessmen who often earned their wealth in dishonest and greedy ways. Favorable laws were made by the government towards the robber barons. The government helped the rich and didn’t care much for the lower class. Great fortune was made on the transcontinental railroad and the oil industry. Both of these companies treated their workers poorly and paid them low wages. Corporations became very powerful by creating monopolies “A system in which one corporation controls all or most of an industry”(173 Zinn). Politicians came up with the idea of communism and socialism, economic systems that would benefit the poor. The Sherman Anti-Trust

The laboring class argues that work conditions were horrible; they were unsanitary, overbearing, exhausting, and the list continues (doc. F and G). While this argument holds true, it can not be denied that if more money had been spent on salaries and the beautification of the working environment, the manufacturers would have had no wealth to redistribute to philanthropist purposes. If Rockefeller had not “stolen” from his workers, who then would have contributed to the University of Chicago’s educational and enlightenment funds? If Carnegie had not donated his funds to the creation and prosperity of Carnegie University, how then would the University’s present day achievements have come alive? The fact of the matter is that if it were not for these “robber barons” and their philanthropy, there would be no solid educational basis for America to grow from. And without some form of education, the innovations that America’s greatest inventors created would have not found their way to industrial success and popularity.

It is seen through the eyes of Andrew Carnegie, that our lives and our success become based off of how much ‘will’ we are willing to put in. Not only that, but it is clearly seen that Carnegie is a firm believer in sharing the wealth with those less fortunate. As well as the disturbance Andrew Carnegie had in the great division of rich and poor, he felt to suggest his ideas in order to fix this. On the other hand, when seen in the eyes of the “average coal miner”, he understands the process in which the positions of work function. The “average coal miner” has no objections with the process, but rather, keeps striving to rise up.

First and foremost, Capitalism wants people to work it doesn’t want people to prefer not to work, the working man needs to work in order for the economy to keep on rolling. The rich men of capitalism want the working man to keep on working for their money to come in. Without work capitalism crashes. That is why Bartleby is thrown in prison, this is why he is constantly persecuted and questioned by the narrator, the narrator is confused because he is used to capitalism and it’s way of working, Bartleby is nothing but the odd one out of this system. When Bartleby stops producing copies, his life slowly gets worst, it leads him to go in prison and rot for the rest of his days. Bartleby lives in a society that wants nothing but constant production. He is crushed by the money-making monster that is capitalism. No one wants Bartleby to work in their establishment because he doesn’t want to work. To this society someone who does not want to work is regarded as a lazy person who leeches off of others. The narrator tries to get Bartleby to stay away from him, he doesn’t want anything to do with him near the end, capitalism has consumed the narrator it shows that it has

Capitalism is an unnatural perversion of society in Marx and Engel’s The Communist Manifesto. It is constantly consumptive, unable to exist without further expansion. It warps society through its exploitation of labor and the class that provides it. The Communist Manifesto goes beyond just a sociopolitical critique of capitalism, and adds otherworldly, almost Gothic elements. Repeated supernatural, fantastical language reinforces the idea that capitalism is an illegitimate twist of the natural state of human affairs.

Edward Bellamy's, "Looking Backward: From 2000 to 1887," challenges the problems of the Gilded Age and opens the readers to a new type of progressive, where he not only sheds light on the inequalities of capitalism but also provides a solution for it. While Bellamy's book does introduce his readers to many different themes, a consistent one is that of freedom. Bellamy's vision for the future promoted freedom in the ways of change, government and the relief of social pressures.

Throughout Cultural Perspectives, many influential texts have been read, analyzed, and discussed. One text, Life in the Iron Mills by Rebecca Harding Davis, integrates the thoughts of quite a few authors that have been discussed this semester. Through employing a Marxist view of history—there are always the “haves” and the “have-nots”—one can see that Life in the Iron Mills exemplifies the struggles that face many “have-not” citizens throughout history. One can then see the clear connections to various authors such as Mary Wollstonecraft, W.E.B. DuBois, Karl Marx and Freidrich Engels, and Adam Smith.

One topic subject to never-ending debate that is reviewed, revised, then and disputed among scholars, is the market and the economy. In the book, "The Mind and The Market" by Jerry Muller (2002), he discusses the different viewpoints of scholars about capitalism in the market and the influence society holds on it. This writing is comprised of summaries of several reviews from a variety of authors, which will include their viewpoints, their criticism, and an overall review from Muller 's work. These authors include Brian Fox, Patrick Murray, Charles Tilly, and Fritz Ringer. Each author originates from respected and prestigious journals from different universities, programs, and other education systems. All intellectuals are experts in their field of study with a background in either philosophy, history, or economy, making their viewpoints meaningful, insightful, and relevant. Following the summary of each review will be a comparison and contrasting piece, continuing into an evaluation addressing if they captured the book in an appropriate way. Concluding the essay will have an input of my own personal review of the book. As shown, the reviews vary with their personal opinions regarding the positives and negatives of Muller 's work.

Capitalism has been the subject of ethical criticism since it was first introduced into society. I defend the morality of capitalism because it gives people incentive to work, establishes a web of trust between them, satisfies their material well-being, and generates a wide spectrum of prosperity.

This is a review on the book "The Politically Incorrect Guide to Capitalism" by Robert Murphy (Murphy, 2007). The book gives an exceptionally exhaustive argument for free market standards and logic. The book takes a gander at how free market is the most ideal approach to arrange both national and worldwide monetary systems. While financial aspects are vogue nowadays, the book advocates the perspective that business sectors are the unrivaled method for accomplishing monetary productivity as well as social equity. Numerous things that are expectedly accepted to advantage the general public have precisely the inverse impacts. Labor unions, Business regulation, affirmative action, and profit taxes make all of us worse off in the long run (Murphy, 2007).