An examination of the complex process that saw business enterprise move from a marginal position in the largely agrarian society of the early colonial period to become, by the twentieth century, one of the principal forces shaping American culture. Subjects to be considered: the business and political activities of colonial merchants, early-American attempts at industrialization, the business careers of John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie, and the growth, since 1900, of multidivisional corporations like DuPont and General Motors. Readings will include historical studies, biography, autobiography, and fiction.
Format: discussion. Students will write a series of short analytical papers and will have the choice of either writing a longer, final essay or taking a final exam. Enrollment limit: 25 (expected: 20-25). Open to sophomores and also to first-year students with Advanced Placement Credit in American History. Group A