Max Weber's The Spirit Of Capitalism

Crèveloeur’s character, James, “beholds fair cities, substantial villages, extensive fields, an immense country filled with decent houses, good roads, orchards, meadows, and bridges, where an hundreds years ago all was wild, woody and uncultivated!” (Horwitz 25). America’s identity is formed by how its citizens and visitors view the country. Crèveloeur described America as being a beautiful frontier. John Quinney’s speech was the complete opposite from Crèveloeur’s story. It focused on the darker side of being in the United States. He “sought to prick the consciences of his listeners by reminding them of the epidemic diseases, warfare, broken treaties, and land appropriations that had characterized Indian history throughout the eras of European …show more content…
“Salt was an attraction because it was needed to preserve food for storage and so that people could more easily travel. Mines and better soil were attractions that provided wealth and/or food. Army posts became necessary centers of attraction for protection. With all the wide-open space that was available, it was natural that people would move west to claim the land and the benefits it reaped” (Study).In Max Weber’s The Spirit of Capitalism he writes “the honest man of recognized credit, and above all the idea of a duty of the individual toward the increase of his capital, which is assumed as an end in itself” (Horwitz 41). Weber appears to be saying that America only looks at someone’s value, capital, and credit. However, the average American judges someone’s value, capital, and credit by their appearance and during the first meeting without researching the information. Weber does not believe that American is a land of opportunity but rather a land of judgement. Weber’s dislike for America pales in comparison to Mencken’s view on America and its opportunities. Mencken said “that the government of the United States...is ignorant, incompetent, corrupt, and disgusting” (Horwitz 51). He goes on to talk about the judicial system and how “stupid, dishonest, and against all reason and equity [it is. Plus, how] hypocritical, disingenuous, knavish, and dishonorable” (Horwitz 51) the system is. Mencken even continues to insult the American people, …show more content…
He states that the feeling that the colonies felt towards the British is how the African American feel about the colonies; “sovereign indifference, coldness and scorn” (Horwitz 107). Unlike Weber and Mencken, Douglass conveys his thoughts in a respectful manner during his speech. He does not verbally attack/abuse the United States or the people. He clearly speaks his mind and speaks from his heart on such a controversial topic back then.The reason that people fled to the United States was for freedom of religion. The United States was a land of religious opportunity. Winthrop believed this, when “persecution intensified under Charles I, about 700 of [the Puritans] opted to cross the Atlantic aboard a dozen ships... [for the opportunity] of perfection befitting their exodus” (Horwitz 13). In the United States the Puritans would be able to escaper persecution from King Charles I of Great Britain in the land of religious opportunity. The Declaration of Independence to some is a document representing the United States’ independence from the Great Britain and the opportunities this offers people. The Declaration of Independence “helped immortalize a distinction between colonialism and self-governance, between tyranny and protections for individual liberty, private property, and equality” (Horwitz 63). But to some “it was no more than a well-timed, albeit elegantly crafted, bit of propaganda” (Horwitz 63). The Woman’s Right Convention’s Declaration of