The Depression of the 21st Century

Understanding the history of American business is essential to understanding why business in the 21st century is conducted the way it is, and how it affects our nation's economic stability. The picture defining American business is clarified 100 times when we begin to correlate politics in America to business in America. For instance, almost every political campaign appealed to American's desire for independence, longing for respect, and freedom. The effect these plans had on the future economy of America was never mentioned. For example, as we look back to the 1800's, Americans made their way west, and they risked all for their independence, livelihood, and freedom. The government used those desires to "direct" the people and keep them under political scrutiny. All the while, seeds of prejudice and fear were planted toward the "natives" by many; interestingly, the government did nothing to change these beliefs and even employed labels to the natives like "Savage." Without a doubt, these are powerful tactics used to manipulate and control public oppinion; as, fear stops communication, and prejudice lends a non-human view of the subject being scrutinized, making it easier for politicians to steal the Natives land. To further instigate unrest, the government sent troops presumably to keep the peace. The soldiers carried the "Colt Peacemaker" notably, the gun that won the west (2009 The Wild West). Cleverly, the politicians professed to negotiate with the Natives, and did carry out peace talks, but still employed tactics of fear, oppression, trickery, and finally war. The majority of white Americans did not question the brutal and un-American acts that transpired to eradicate the "savages," and became more and more threatened, resentful, and prejudice of the Natives by news and gossip spread amongst them. These destructive mindsets were useful to the political nature of government officials interested in seizing the moment and creating wealth and power for themselves (2007 Boghosian).

From the beginning, it seems that manipulative political-mindsets and greed ran the newly formed country. It is interesting that some of the less scrupulous businesses were established off the skirt-tails of the legitimate business of the day, and still thrive in America today. For instance, looking back to some of the beginning businesses in the 1800's, we find that cattle and mining industries set a pattern for profitable trade. The most lucrative and ancient businesses birthed in America from the cattle and mining industries was prostitution, drugs, and alcohol trade. For example, back in the frenzy of the gold rush opium dens, saloon and prostitutes were big business. Prostitutes not only worked in the saloons and opium bath houses, they also strolled the streets of mining and cattle towns openly eliciting business, and according to the text " . . . plied their trade in one room shacks called "cribs" (2008 Davidson, Delay, Heyrman, Lytle, and Stoff). Interestingly, the word "crib" has taken on many meaning, but in the 21st century it is still used to describe "crash pad, gangster home, shack in the hood, or home thieves case and plan to rob," which (in some ways) correlates to the underlying meaning of 'a crib' as used by prostitutes in the 1800's (2009 Encyclopedia online).

Communication and transportation industries assisted the spread of good and bad trade; and, the speed at which businesses profited when assisted by the transportation industry only fueled the fire of greed. Railroads transported products more efficiently and quicker, making business more lucrative; and, as a faster exchange took place, more people could be reached and sold to. Also, products of all types could be shipped out, fashioned into a tradable item, returned to the original market, and sold to consumers. The fur trade made millions on the transport of skins, and had a hand in the near extinction of Bison and other species. The business tycoons of the transportation industry made no distinction of morale or non-morale goods; and therefore, all the evils that come with lack of morality and/or 'turning a blind eye' affected industry protocol and practices of the business world of early America.

The politics around these businesses and the morale degradation of people were a bad mix, hence the title "the Wild West," and the outcome of these events affect America to this day. America responded to the morale degradation by replacing vigilantly law enforcement with police, monitoring prostitution rings which only forced the girls behind closed doors, while ignoring drug and alcohol industries. In response to unfair working conditions, the unions were established to protect the workers of mines, who were over-worked and underpaid by the company owners. Finally, the distribution of land was essential to creating order for the people.

The Homestead Act of 1862, created economic issues because of land use. The American government wanted to populate the land and did so with ease. By spreading the news of 160 acres of land for a price, the people rushed to do the politician's bidding once again without questioning who the land belonged to; the people or the government serving the people. (Ironically, the roles of citizen and government are still reversed in the 21st century). Undeniably, the response of thousands of people descending upon the west only complicated issues around new America and its declining morality, animal extinction from traders, and land wars with the Native Indians. Between the railroads, cattlemen, and mines, land became vital to all operations and greed prevailed. The cattle ranchers didn't want sheep herders on the land, and the farmers didn't want cattle roaming freely, and every vital business overcharged the little guy because they could.

Another industry that seized land and worked for more and more profit at the peoples' expense was the railroads. They used grant land that they possessed to lure Europeans to America as a way to create more business for the transportation industry: The question remains, were the lands ever the governments to take, grant, or sell (1995 National Park Services)? In response to government greed in the Wild West, Senator Andrew Johnson asked the right question and then resolved to protect the people. He asked, "Didn't working people have a right to free land?" Johnson fought for the people, and the Homestead Act provided free land to anyone who made improvements while occupying the land for a period of time." To avoid price gouging from the transportation industry many ranchers transported their cattle the old fashioned way, grew their own hay and veggies, and made their own breads. For protection against trespassers, land owners who fought the land use wars employed barbwire fences to keep the unwanted herds off their land. Interestingly, barbwire fences not only became fashionable in the 1800's, they are still used in the 21st century (1995 National Park Services).

Bad business practices used during the early 1800's made their way into the industrial age. Between 1870 and 1900 financial capital became important to the large investments required for the scale of industry popping up in America. This created savings institutions and commercial investment houses. The New York Stock Exchange became the avenue of making capital available to industry. Workers to run the factories were overworked and underpaid. Private enterprise was squashed by business mergers and trusts. When smaller business competed with each other the bigger businesses joined forces to control competition by employing pools, which was an illegal restraint on trade. Darwinism relieved the conscience of American big business tycoons and political leaders by reasoning that "the poor were products of natural selection." As it did in the 1800's, greed, racism and oppression paved the way to America's future in the 1900's, just as it does present day. Answering to the corruption that bent and twisted its way into the industrial age, religious leaders encouraged the rich to be stewards for the poor, and the age of Darwinism continued to counter with "the poor were products of natural selection." To put a leash on the corporate world, congress passed the Sherman Antitrust act, and workers fought for wage increases, and shorter work days. Finally, a combination of bad business and greed created the depression of 1893.

In response to the depression, working and middle-class families took in boarders, laundry and sewing to make ends meet. The poor starved, or begged which caused fear and unrest for those more fortunate (2000 Edwards). With so many husbands and fathers out of work more wives and children entered the workforce Unrest led to protests and strikes, which eventually led to disenchantment with Cleveland and the Democratic Party, and a move to the Republican party and McKinley in the White House. Once Republicans gained control of the government by selling the idea of "sound money;" promising domestic prosperity and respect overseas, the political stalemate ended, and a redirect of national focus to domestic prosperity, and possibilities beyond American borders seemed to contain the peoples' discontentment for a time (2008 Davidson pp. 607- 611).

Moving into the 19th century, all wars aside, religious leaders of the day are addressing corporations and the wealthy citizens. They continue to encourage them to repent of greed, and move toward aiding the poor. Unfortunately, because moral degradation made its way into the religious houses well before the Americas were explored, Darwinism made prosperity or poverty inevitable, and the class distinctions appropriate; therefore, the church carry little weight with wealthy, and corporate America. Labor and social reforms became the fix-all during the progressive movement. The end results are described beautifully in our text on page 657 and I quote; "Perhaps inevitably, progressive reforms was a patchwork affair, always uneven and incomplete" (2008 Davidson). The issues for freedom for private enterprise, fair and just business practices, racial and gender equality, and the end to corporate corruption clearly remained unchanged. Even so, because of the progressive movement, some changes did prevail. The workers did eventually achieve and eight hour work day. Women suffrage (19th amendment passed, birth control league), direct elections of Senators, and progressive tax, just too name of few.

Moving forward, the most atrocious prejudice and civil genocide happened right under America's nose. Shortly after World War I, the re-born Ku Klux Klan (KKK) headed a 25 State man hunt for the African American. Blinded by the idea of White Supremacy, they lit crosses on fire and terrorized black citizens. With the idea of wiping out the entire race regardless of their achievements or public standing, members of the KKK mindlessly killed. Black people were lynched, burned alive, and buried alive. Whole black neighborhoods were burned to the ground (2008 Davidson p.p. 711-712). This was only one of many racial riots and genocide attempts that occurred in the "Land of the presumably, God fearing Free." Eventually, the government responded to the massive riots by sending the Armed Guard, but not before many lives were lost and families destroyed. After this intervention, the Klan turned to politics and placed many members in prominent positions within the government; they prevailed until their own corruption undid them (2008 Davidson).

Finally, in 1929, the corporate and wealthy greed and control unraveled America's economy, and the Great Depression ensued. In a sense, corporations' control of profit and loss by lower wages and increased productivity, this eventually slowed consumer spending. Hence, people borrowed to make up for the difference in lost wages. The wealthy horded more money than they could spend and the working class could not spend enough to balance the economy. Lastly, corruption of bank management, unchecked stock exchanges and stock fraud ran rampant. In the end, our own corrupt business practices destroyed our economy once again (2009 Nelson).

The working class responded to the Great Depression by striking, walking away from their homes, standing in food lines and begging for a job and meal. Most young couples put off marriage and children. The government enforced regulation on banks, injected money into the banks to save them, and eventually provided unemployment relief. The government also gave farmers a fresh start by relocating them, and the banks refinanced some farm mortgages. Lastly, World War II restored the economy by providing jobs for the women of America and sending our men off to war.

Moving into the 1960's, one finds the most controversial, politically fueled war overtaking the psyche of America. Not only was the Vietnam War in full swing, racial activism rose to an all-time high, and for the first time, many Americans questioned the motives of American politicians. These were bleak times for American youth, as the nation as a whole unraveled by the very seams that held it together. To make matter more complex, Segregation, a way of life in America, became under fire by two prominent leader's John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. Eventually, racial wars raged as the powers that be became suspect in the murder of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. To add fuel to the fire, women's rights activist became more demonstrative, and the youth of America openly rebelled against everything American big business, politicians, and the war stood for. The national response to these years of turmoil is being played out in to this very day. For example, we are still looking for POW's from the Vietnam War, and America is still reaping the consequences of its corporate corruption, tainted politicians and prejudice. Through it all, rebellion and unrest prevails in America today, as this nation continues to fight for the freedom it was founded on (2009 Digital History).In conclusion, understanding the history of American business is essential to understanding why business in the 21st century is conducted the way it is, and how it affects our nation's economic stability. The picture defining American business is clarified 100 times when we begin to correlate politics in America to business. America is again struggling to survive yet another Great Depression, and the causes are clearly due to corporate corruption and unsound political practices. It seems in the midst of life events, and our own greed, that we the people have forgotten who is responsible and entitled to take charge of America, to ensure our freedoms, and to reclaim the governorship of this great land. Clearly, the ultimate responsibility lays within the tenacity and fortitude of we the people.

 
References
Boghosian H. (2007) Punishing Protest. National Lawyers Guild (2009); Retrieved on October 24, 2009 from: https://www.nationallawyersguild.org/punishing.htm

Davidson J.W., DeLay B., Heyrman C. L., Lytle M.H. & Stoff M.B. (2008) Nation of Nations (6th ED.), McGraw-Hill Company.
Digital History (2009) The Vietnam War. Learning About the Vietnam War. Retrieved on October 25, 2009 from: http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/modules/vietnam/index.cfm

Edwards R. (2000). The Depression of 1896. Vassar College: Retrieved on October 25, 2009 from; http://projects.vassar.edu/1896/depression.html

Encyclopedia home (11th ED.). Online Encyclopedia; Crib Origins: Originally appearing in Volume V07, Page 433 of the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved on October 24, 2009 from: http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/CRE_DAH/CRIB_a_word_common_to_some_Teut.html

National Park Services (1995) US Department of Interior Homestead Act of 1964. Retrieved on October 25, 2009 from http://www.beatricene.com/homestead/history.html

Nelson C. (2009) Modern American Poetry The Great Depression; retrieved on October 25, 2009 from: http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/depression/depression.htm
The Wild West (2009) Cowboys, Native American, American History, Wild West, American Indians the Colt Peacemaker. Retrieved on October 25, 2009 from: http://thewildwest.org