The article “Baubles of Britain” by Timothy Breen describes the high demand for consumer goods from British manufacturers. Americans were all coming together to support the goods trade with Britain. Breen proposes that this consumer economy took Americans by storm. People wanted the very latest items that were just shipped in. Items including cloth, ceramics, glassware, paper, cutlery. These items would make a change in everyday life.
Breen used primary sources and individual accounts that were beneficial to proving his thesis. An example of a primary source that he repeatedly used was the New York newspapers.
In Breen’s study, he expressed that this ever changing America was becoming more popular. He dwelled on that it was easily accessible and affordability of goods that were common, useful, and …show more content…
John Adams indicated how different society was in his reaction to the mansion of a Boston merchant. He states that the furniture alone, "cost a thousand Pounds sterling. The Turkey Carpets, the painted Hangings, the Marble Table, the rich Beds with crimson Damask Curtains and Counterpanes, the beautiful Chimney Clock, the spacious Garden, are the most magnificent of any Thing I have ever seen" (p.79). If you think about it, this rising of consumer goods didn’t help those who were poor or needy.
Breen also seems to neglect the goods that were commonly used of American manufacturers. He mentions multiple examples of American furniture in museums and galleries that show the quality and beauty of family friendly manufactures. Breen himself refers to "modern museums where these articles still proudly document an expanding world of goods" in his list of sources of evidence for his research. In his review of these museums, he seems to ignore items of colonial manufacture in his enthusiasm to promote his thesis on the necessity of the "empire of goods" on the coming
Breen used primary sources and individual accounts that were beneficial to proving his thesis. An example of a primary source that he repeatedly used was the New York newspapers.
In Breen’s study, he expressed that this ever changing America was becoming more popular. He dwelled on that it was easily accessible and affordability of goods that were common, useful, and …show more content…
John Adams indicated how different society was in his reaction to the mansion of a Boston merchant. He states that the furniture alone, "cost a thousand Pounds sterling. The Turkey Carpets, the painted Hangings, the Marble Table, the rich Beds with crimson Damask Curtains and Counterpanes, the beautiful Chimney Clock, the spacious Garden, are the most magnificent of any Thing I have ever seen" (p.79). If you think about it, this rising of consumer goods didn’t help those who were poor or needy.
Breen also seems to neglect the goods that were commonly used of American manufacturers. He mentions multiple examples of American furniture in museums and galleries that show the quality and beauty of family friendly manufactures. Breen himself refers to "modern museums where these articles still proudly document an expanding world of goods" in his list of sources of evidence for his research. In his review of these museums, he seems to ignore items of colonial manufacture in his enthusiasm to promote his thesis on the necessity of the "empire of goods" on the coming