Summary Of The Market Revolution By John Lauritz Larson

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John Lauritz Larson the professor of history at Purdue University explores the captivating consequences that result from the market revolution in early America. With a passion for the matter and creative thinking, his research leads him to unanticipated consequences that plunge Americans with the transition to capitalism that relates economic change to the liberty and self-determination of individuals. According to Larson, there are remnants that are still relevant in history today. The mass industrial democracy that is placed in the modern United States bears very little resemblance to the past which was a simple agrarian republic. All because of the market revolution, the transformation resulting in the tangled foundation we know today …show more content…

Within the first chapter, Larson describes how Americans after the American Revolution were hesitant about changing ideas. The idea of federal powers and a new market economy scared the lives of many as they feared the corruption of these higher powers were imminent. The Americans held onto their free market economy with disbelief as they did not understand their own economy could be corrupted as well. In short, the Americans had to pick the lesser of two evils that would give them more liberty with the best chance it would not corrupt their market. The side that embraced the free market was the Democratic-Republicans were the others that opposed it was the Federalists. The Hamilton’s party related more with mercantilisms more than the Republicans which Larson explains (Larson 23). One of the projects that caused high tension amongst the people was the Charles River Bridge project from 1785 to 1837 showed that capitalism as well can be just as corrupt like many of the central economies already implemented. The economic growth and sudden wealth had the potential to turn good companies succumb to greed (Larson 24 – 25). Larson tries to show how Americans became somewhat dependent on their economic system which ensured the safety of people’s liberty, but with the Supreme court ruling regarding the Charles River Bridge had good intent as it …show more content…

It allows Larson to make a connection between Americans and the market revolution as he took the idea of liberty and the results of the market revolution creating invoking questions with evidence to support it. With each side in the American Revolution, each side had its own agenda. Each side was trying to deliver freedom and independence over the other. The North and the South had varying ideas where the South were carrying out the rights of the state while the North was fighting for human liberty. The key component here was each side believed what they were doing was right and defender their notion with their lives upholding their ideals that would bring peace (Larson 141 –