The History of American Business

When analyzing America's twentieth century rise to a global power, it is important to determine the origins of its current dominant position in world affairs. Nearly all major events of American history have been fueled by business motives.

The first colonies were established for the economic gain of the European powerhouses (primarily Britain, France, and Holland), and fueled the beginnings of our modern-day capitalism. Subsequently, after the United States earned its independence it became the primary supplier of goods in Europe, whose countries were tied up in multiple wars with each other. This allowed the U.S. to have over 300 modern corporations running by the beginning of the nineteenth century, while England and France had only a few dozen each. As technology continued to evolve, industrialization brought much of rural America into a new era, and is credited with pulling millions of citizens out of poverty.

The twentieth century is considered "America's century," as the nations emergence as a world power is almost exclusively tied to its economic growth. During the post-WWII era, the United States was one of the only influential countries not crippled by the war, consequently its economy boomed during the 1950s, as modern American materialism became the basis for globalization. This gluttonous attitude towards consumerism even spilled over into politics, becoming a symbol of liberty and the "free world" when contrasted against the Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War. Today, globalization is often still tied to the U.S. economy, as most growing nations choose to emulate our business models in the hope of enjoying similar economic success.