== Henry Bellows, on the influence of “Trading Spirit” on morality, 1845 ==

== Henry Bellows, on the influence of “Trading Spirit” on morality, 1845 ==

In Henry Bellow's document the quote, "Is it that our people are so much more miserly and earth-born than any other? No, not by any constitutional baseness; but circumstances have necessarily given this direction to the American mind," (Bellows 223). I found this interesting because it brings up the concept of nature vs. nurture. This quote ties in very well with everything else that he is saying, and this document helps to point out the beginning of an American identity shaped by circumstances.    ---Laura Peters

In Henry Bellow's document the quote, "'''Is it that our people are so much more miserly and earth-born than any other? No, not by any constitutional baseness; but circumstances have necessarily given this direction to the American mind,'''" (Bellows 223). I found this interesting because it brings up the concept of nature vs. nurture. This quote ties in very well with everything else that he is saying, and this document helps to '''point out the beginning of an American identity shaped by circumstances'''.    ---Laura Peters

In "The Influence fo the Trading Spirit upon the Social and Moral Life of America", its interesting how they call New England the "common mother" just how the New England settlement had called England their mother. Later in the reading there is a shift in the Revolution by morals, the virtues and morals are all of merchants, what influences their mindset of merchantilism, what is their basis? Lauren Hicks

In "The Influence fo the Trading Spirit upon the Social and Moral Life of America", its interesting how they call New England the "common mother" just how the New England settlement had called England their mother. Later in the reading there is a shift in the Revolution by morals, the virtues and morals are all of merchants, what influences their mindset of merchantilism, what is their basis? Lauren Hicks

This article could be published in the Post because of the huge parallels between working too much then and working too much now. It seems that even from the get-go our culture has centered around the material gain we get from hard work. It all relates back to the "American Dream" in which, if you work hard you can achieve happiness through your wealth. -Lindsay Bothwell

'''This article could be published in the Post because of the huge parallels between working too much then and working too much now.''' It seems that even from the get-go our culture has centered around the material gain we get from hard work. '''It all relates back to the "American Dream" in which, if you work hard you can achieve happiness through your wealth'''. -Lindsay Bothwell

Henry bellow says, "We are not prepared to allow that wealth is more valued in America than elsewhere, but in other countries the successful pursuit of it is necessarily confied to a few, while here it is open to all." I found this comment interesting, because when I read it, I understand it to mean that Bellow's wants an elite, a monarch to serve. As if he believes in the dominant controlling group that all of the commoners work to please. -Dani Jones

Henry bellow says, "We are not prepared to allow that wealth is more valued in America than elsewhere, but in other countries the successful pursuit of it is necessarily confied to a few, while here it is open to all." I found this comment interesting, because when I read it, I understand it to mean that Bellow's wants an elite, a monarch to serve. As if he believes in the dominant controlling group that all of the commoners work to please. -Dani Jones

Bellow makes the claim of Americans caught up in their pursuit of wealth, "We are not a happy people.  And it is true."  If this is an accurate statement of this country at the time, I was wondering if this, perhaps, was a confounding variable in the tensions between the North and South that were starting to build.  Can we argue that America was a country so overworked and stressed out that it needed its civil war to release those tensions, as well as provide a break from the everyday monotony of commodities exchange?   

Bellow makes the claim of Americans caught up in their pursuit of wealth, "We are not a happy people.  And it is true."  If this is an accurate statement of this country at the time, I was wondering if this, perhaps, was a confounding variable in the tensions between the North and South that were starting to build.  '''Can we argue that America was a country so overworked and stressed out that it needed its civil war to release those tensions, as well as provide a break from the everyday monotony of commodities exchange?'''  

-Adam Shlossman

-Adam Shlossman

== Walter Colton’s California Diary, 1849-1850 ==

== Walter Colton’s California Diary, 1849-1850 ==