Introduction
For well over two hundred years American businesses and corporations have received both praise and criticism from citizens who either view their presence as one of necessity or one of greed. Since the dawn of the country, foreigners from all over the world were enticed by the opportunities that America had for producing tremendous wealth. Conversations erupted about the potential for success through business in America, which in turn initiated the rise of entrepreneurship in the nation. Businesses were even further developed when Westward Expansion and the Industrial Revolution occurred, introducing new forms of industry and giving companies a higher availability workers than they had ever seen. Conversations continued about the thriving American economy and how triumphant it was in comparison to other countries. These positive exchanges regarding American business slowly dwindled over time, however, as the concept of "corporate America" began to permeate American thought. In America today, the views regarding corporations in America are arguably split into two groups: one that continues to be in awe of their presence, and another that sees them as nothing more than greedy and controlling tycoons.
The American fascination with business first came to be when European settlers arrived in the nation. Determined to acquire great wealth, these individuals sought prosperity through the creation of companies and corporations. The earliest businesses in America, such as the fur trade and the printing industry, sparked conversations amongst colonists about the potential that the nation had for economic success. The blossoming country of America grew in population as citizens boasted about the lucrative companies within the nation that had the capacity to take over the world.
Out of the early American businesses came the concept of entrepreneurship in America. People spoke fondly of individuals who sought self-employment, promoting the message to not only just the country, but also to foreigners. This boosted the population of the country even further, as immigrants came to the nation in hopes of establishing a self-made business and achieving their version of "the American dream." Entrepreneurship also contributed to inventions in the country; people who were determined to make their own corporations were innovative, leading to some of the greatest inventions in history (such as the lightbulb). However, although it once began as positive, the conversation surrounding entrepreneurship is no longer completely hopeful. While the dream of creating a successful, self-sufficient company once captivated the minds of Americans, that fantasy has been gradually dwindling as ambitious self-starters instead settle for enclosed cubicles and uniform offices. In today's America, it is a common belief amongst citizens that entrepreneurship is a hopeless goal, as small businesses are shut out from economic decisions, and there are very few people who even have the economic means to be entrepreneurs. While once one of the most appealing aspects of America, entrepreneurship is no longer exclusively seen as a picture-perfect and attainable dream.
Soon after entrepreneurship grew, industrialization erupted within the country. Businesses jumped on the Industrial Revolution, seeing it as an opportunity to acquire even more wealth. Factories were created, mass production boomed, and corporations garnered more wealth than they had ever acquired before. However, the conversations, while still mostly focused on how great businesses were, began to shift towards the safety of working conditions. Citizens grew concerned about how safe factories were, how children were being treated within work environments, and more. For one of the first times in the history of the country, conversations about business did not solely revolve around its monetary value.
Westward Expansion was also occurring during the time of the Industrial Revolution. The mining and lumber industries thrived in the West, achieving economic power like factories on the East did. Railroad companies also came into power, taking over much of the land in the West, producing both positive and negative conversations amongst citizens living there; people were either in favor of the progressive form of transportation, or saw it as being terrible for the country.
As business in America has grown since the time of the Industrial Revolution and Westward Expansion, it has become increasingly-powerful in the country. The wealth that business owners stumbled upon grew even more, which has contributed to the conversation about how pointless pursuing a self-made company is when it is impossible to compete with today's affluent corporations. Instead, many see the businesses today as having too much power and influence over our daily lives. From simple advertising tactics to making crucial impacts on the election of government officials, the power that American businesses hold today concerns a large population of citizens. While there is the other population that still views businesses in America as the backbone of the nation, many do not see it in that same light.
American business is arguably one of the most vital aspects of the nation. The opportunity for great wealth through business is what initially pulled settlers in to coming into the country to establish companies of their own, which in turn led to entrepreneurship. While entrepreneurship has slowly eroded over time and been exposed as an unreachable goal amongst certain groups of citizens, it did lead to industrialization and the expansion of the West, which furthered the growth of companies in the nation. This development, while originally looked upon with favor by nearly the entire country, has gradually been seen as a negative growth. Although some citizens see American business in a positive light like they always have, many apprehend that it has become too powerful in recent years. All of these conversations surrounding American business, its history, how much power it holds, and whether or not it does any good for the nation, have helped shape America into what it is today.