Analyzing the Market Revolution's Influence on American Freedom

This essay analyzes the impact of the Market Revolution on American ideas about freedom, drawing from chapter nine of "VOICES OF FREEDOM" and focusing on six key articles. The essay explores the evolution of workplace rights, freedom of worship, the role of women, and individualism in the context of the Market Revolution. It examines primary sources like the "Complaint of a Lowell Factory worker," Joseph Smith's writings on religious freedom, and perspectives from Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, alongside the westward movement and the acceptance of immigrants. The analysis reveals how the Market Revolution shaped and challenged the evolving concepts of freedom in America, covering topics such as labor conditions, religious tolerance, individual expression, and the rights of immigrants. The essay also references contemporary examples like Rihanna's album "Lemonade" to highlight ongoing struggles for equality and freedom.

Running head: IMPACT OF MARKET REVOLUTION ON AMERICAN IDEAS 1
The Impact of Market Revolution on American Ideas about Freedom
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IMPACT OF MARKET REVOLUTION ON AMERICAN IDEAS 2
The Impact of Market Revolution on American Ideas about Freedom
America has had a fair share of highs and lows in achieving freedom and happiness for its
Citizens. The struggle towards making America a more democratic country includes significant
strides made by the several ruling governments (Bloemraad & Provine, 2013). Notable of the
strides are; Declaration of independence on July 4, 1776, Ratification of the constitution to
include the bill of rights, Abolition of slavery, and the acceptance of immigrants (Martineau
2017). Chapter nine of the VOICES OF FREEDOM looks into different situations that took
place post-independence that have, in a way, or the other shaped the notion about freedom in
America (Fast, Foner, & DuBois 2015). Therefore, this paper dissects the six articles in chapter 9
of the VOICES OF FREEDOM to find out how they affect ideas about freedom.
Chapter nine has a total of six episodes, each addressing specific aspects of society,
which ultimately affects how people live their lives. The articles address topics such as freedom
of worship, workplace rights, the role of women in society, and the essence of individualism.
Section 54, titled "Complaint of a Lowell Factory worker," is a piece penned by a woman who
worked in a cotton factory decrying about poor working conditions. In the section, she compares
the laborers at the firm to slaves as the "system requires them to toil from five until seven
o'clock." Additionally, according to the lady, women in the United States do not have a voice as
they are” destined to a taste of servitude as degrading as unceasing toil can make it”. The piece
addresses the two primary work-related rights. One is the need to have equal rights at the
workplace regardless of one's gender, and second, it addresses the need to have proper working
conditions for employees (Markus & Schwartz 2010). This was also expounded by Rihanna in
2016 when she released a new album dabbed the “Lemonade” which majorly came out as a
symbol of black feminist trying to stand out from the oppression of black women in the United

IMPACT OF MARKET REVOLUTION ON AMERICAN IDEAS 3
States (Fast, Foner & DuBois, 2015). The Lemonade was intended to expose the nation for
undermining the lesser beings in its society instead of standing up for the women who are never
celebrated but instead looked down upon (Bloemraad & Provine, 2013). According to the writer
of the piece, the working conditions at the firm could not allow for individuals to explore their
potential and thus the need to have proper regulations that would enable laborers to concentrate
at work and consequently be productive at work.
The chapter further presents two articles (55 and 59), which generally talk about the
freedom of Worship in America. Went Worth's letter is a piece that was penned by Joseph Smith
regarding his expedition with Christianity religion. Joseph Smith, in the Book of Mormons,
explains how he had an encounter with angels and how he was ordered to guide to the universe.
In the book, Smith notes that in his early life, he noticed the conflict that existed in religion
(Markus & Schwartz, 2010). According to Joseph Smith, their existed factions in worship, and
each had their doctrine. He, therefore, went ahead to seek the true faith that, according to him,
did not have to be divisive. In his mission, he had a vision that led him to form the church
(Finke, et al., 2015). The church faced objections from the government as Joseph insisted that his
teachings were similar to that of God.
Further objections emerged due to the support of polygamy. The piece affects the steps
made towards allowing for the freedom of worship (Markus & Schwartz, 2010). Currently,
individuals are permitted to join the churches they wish to despite providing the operations
respect the laws of the land (Finke et al., 2015). Polygamy is no longer an issue, and great strides
have been made in marriage law to allow for same-sex marriage.
More so, the ninth article addresses scholars' view of freedom in two pieces. The
materials are by Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Ralph, one of New England

IMPACT OF MARKET REVOLUTION ON AMERICAN IDEAS 4
Intellectuals, was of the idea that individuals should take personal responsibility and not be
judged concerning society or community expectations (Portes & Rumbaut, 2014). The essence of
the piece “American Scholar” sought to encourage writers to come up with content that
portrayed one’s thoughts towards a given topic. Ralph believed individuals' opinions were
essential, and this shaped the media freedom (Portes & Rumbaut, 2014). Currently, media houses
have the liberty to follow-up on controversial stories and present findings despite the simplified
or traditional inclination on the matte (Bertrand 2018). Henry, on the other hand, looks into
modern society as deceptive and punitive to individuals. He was of the thought that people are
focusing so much on wealth building and forgetting how to live (Richardson 2015). In his own
words, man has been turned into "tools of their tools." Instead of utilizing the systems and
opportunities created by men, men are working for the system. Each person is desperately
looking at the most accessible opportunity to generate more wealth, forgetting to live well.
According to Henry, men should work for the system and not the other way round (Richardson,
2015). The effect on the freedom aspect is the need to have workable systems that are not
punitive to people
Lastly, an article by a woman in the Westward Movement brought into perspective two
crucial freedom aspects. One is the acceptance of immigrants into a foreign land and the role of
women in society. In the piece by Elizabeth Ellet, she describes her family's immigration
journey. Her family was fleeing from a war in New York, and they opted for Michigan. The
piece affects the freedom of movement in the sense that the United States, as a country,
considered accommodating immigrants into their borders (Bloemraad & Provine 2013).
According to Portes and Rumbaut (2014), immigrants could be fleeing from war, hunger, and
poor living conditions.

IMPACT OF MARKET REVOLUTION ON AMERICAN IDEAS 5
References
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