The Market Revolution Of Americ Liberty Ambition, And The...

Larson, John Lauritz. The Market Revolution in America: Liberty Ambition, and the Eclipse of the Common Good. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010. Thesis: Larson argues that the Market Revolution that occurred in Antebellum America colored if not dictate(d) Americans reactions to a host of public issues (9). She argues that the Market Revolution grew out of the freedom and ambitions of the people, but it was neither the intended outcome of the Revolution (American) nor was it wholly welcomed by the people once they recognized its features (185). Themes: One of the driving themes of the text is innovation and competition. The newness of the united country inspired the youth of the nation to better themselves and their new nation. Everyone was competing to be the best, to have the most, and to make the newest popular thing. With this competition came new items, and new (cheaper) ways to make the items. With this innovation of the country, traveling became easier, and items became more accessible to those of all economic classes. Class is another theme of the text. Those in higher economic classes seemed to cling to the Darwinism Axioms (165) of the 19th century that encourage only survival of the fittest and other elitist ideas that supported the not-so-proper/nice things that were done in the name of innovation. There was also an elitist class bias when it came to the Native Americans. If the Native Americans did not utilize their land the way the