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History of the Great American Fortunes, Vol. I / Conditions in Settlement and Colonial Times cover

History of the Great American Fortunes, Vol. I / Conditions in Settlement and Colonial Times

By Gustavus Myers
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History - AmericanHistory - Early Modern (c. 1450-1750)History - Modern (1750+)

About This Book

The work examines how vast private fortunes in the United States grew out of colonial land grants, proprietary estates, and expanding trading and shipping interests. It surveys settlement-era institutions and social arrangements that concentrated land and economic power, then traces the transformation produced by a rising commercial class. A second section analyzes several prominent fortunes in detail, following their inception, expansion, and the legal, financial, and political mechanisms that sustained them. Throughout, the author argues that great wealth emerges from systemic economic and institutional processes rather than solely from individual thrift or ability, using examples to illustrate recurring methods and effects.

About the Author

Myers, Gustavus portrait

Gustavus Myers

Gustavus Myers was an American journalist and historian known for his critical examination of wealth and power in American society. His notable works include "Great Fortunes from Railroads," which explores the immense wealth generated by the railroad industry, and "The History of Tammany Hall," a detailed account of the political organization that dominated New York City politics for much of the 19th century. Myers's writings often reflect his interest in social justice and the impact of economic inequality, contributing to the discourse on American capitalism and its historical context.

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