AMH 2020
The transformative nature of industrialization brought important changes to the American experience. Both the American Yawp and the primary source readings (Johnson) indicate that contemporaries offered suggestions for how to reform society (Lloyd and George), while others advocated for essentially the status quo (Sumner and Carnegie). Each of the authors present a distinct view of political economy, properly defined as those interrelationships between individuals, government, and public policy. In short, the relationship between the political and the economic. It is traditionally understood that America has always committed itself to a capitalist political economy. That is, we cherish individual property rights, equality of opportunity, minimal government intervention in the economy, and aim to construct a society where individuals are allowed to maximize economic opportunities and personal wealth.
For this essay, students will identify and discuss the political economy gleamed from two of the primary source readings taken from Johnson’s Reading the American Past. Political economy is defined here loosely as a vision for the economy, an ideological disposition or understanding of the economy, an economic program, suggestions for reform, the role of individuals and government, capital and labor, and property, in the economy, or suggestions for public and private economic policy, etc. Essentially, the essay needs to capture and relay the main message of two of the sources found in the Johnson selections.
For instance, Sumner is generally interpreted as one of America’s principal advocates of laissez-faire and, sometimes, Social Darwinism. If you choose to write about Sumner, explain this version of political economy as Sumner describes it. Or, Gompers was an American socialist leader. Explain his understanding of how the economy should function. Students need to illustrate a sharp command and clear understanding of the main ideas of the two readings they have selected. It’s a good idea to pull deftly selected passages (quotations) from the text, but do so judiciously.
