Capitalism In America

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1. Exposure to market capitalism certainly affected U.S relations with the Great Plains and the Far which would lead to American expansion. Market capitalism was essentially a system where the means of production is private but their is a free market in which the prices of goods and services are determined based on competition as well as demand and supply. Market capitalism promoted the idea of private ownership of land and free trade which we can see as a main reason from people moving West to Oregon. Many farmers wanted to move West due to the fertile lands of the Oregon County and many squatted on unclaimed land and hoped that they would be eventually be able to sell the new land to new migrants. This idea of obtaining individual land in …show more content…
Due to the enormous amount of travelers on this trail over 1 million dollars worth of goods was transferred through this trail almost every year. Market capitalism is seen when the Lakota Sioux take over the region after they receive weaponry from French, American, and Spanish traders. They traded buffalo meat and their fur to the white people and soldiers. This entire cycle of free trade made it easier for the U.S to expand because Lakota Sioux were only powerful due to the weapons that they were traded for their goods and therefore would care and allow travelers across the Santa Fe trail in the Great Plains which would lead to expansion out West. Their relation with the people of the Great Plains due to the ideas of market capitalism are what helped them expand West. Lastly, we see that market capitalism had an impact on expansion to California. At first people wanted to move into Texas as there was a substantial amount of land there. Due to their proximity the South wanted to bring over their slaves and build new farms and …show more content…
However, they eventually decided to completely rebel against the Mexicans which would lead to Texas gaining independence. Unfortunately this would lead to many border disputes and conflicts based on who got what land which would lead to the Mexican American War. This entire conflict is based of market capitalism as it is the want of privately owning land so that you can sell your goods and compete with others in the market that drives the Americans to want to have war. Eventually we will see through the Great Compromise of 1850 that some of the disputed land will be ceded by Mexico and there more expansion into California as it is admitted as a free state. The main reason people were moving into California was the craze for gold. Their was a strong influence of market capitalism here because people could squat on land or put stakes on the land they find and own it privately, and then proceed to mine their land in order to gain profit. The amount of gold on the market essentially drove its price. Also the government had no real influence or ability to control this flow of gold which attracted many to expand and move to