History 270: The United States to 1865

Dr. Thomas R. Maddux

Lecture Outline
18th Century and Emerging Capitalism

I. Conflicting Perspectives

A. Progressives on Conflict

B. Neoconservatives on Consensus and Market

C. Social-Family approach

D. Community, family vs. individual acquisition

II. Moral Economy of Subsistence

A. New England

1. Studies of New England communities: Concord

2. Towns resemble traditional peasant villages

3. Moral economy preferable to capitalism

4. Farmers produce for family and community

5. Resistance in Connecticut river valley

III. Market Economy

A. Market activity of farmers, artisans, and laborers

1. Trade, exports, land speculation

B. Carlisle, Pennsylvania

1. Emerging market activity: agrarian entrepreneurs trying to maximize profits

2. Merchants, millers, traders networks from local area to Philadelphia and Baltimore and west to frontier

a. grain, lumber, roads, carrying trade

b. fur trade, warehouses, English imports


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