of their profits. The Constitution gave America power, the biggest prize of capitalism.The article on Benjamin Franklin Is an example of the prevalence of capitalism in the individual lives of early Americans. Benjamins goals in life were wealth and focusing on his own self-improvement. These were both a result of the influence of capitalist values and ideology. First, Benjamins goals went on hold because he had to concentrate on the capitalist aspect of his life. He had to run his business affairs since without his business he would be without profit. Without profit, Benjamin would have been without power and thus useless in our capitalist society. Secondly, Benjamin was self-absorbed, concerned only with improving himself, not his community. This also reveals the dominance of capitalism in every aspect of early American life. The focus upon the individual instead of the good of the community is characteristic of a capitalist attitude. The good of the individual is the most important priority and all else is insignificant. The impact of capitalism on cultural values and ideology can further be seen by examining race and gender issues. The destruction and enslavement of Native Americans and African was a direst result of the need for profit and power, the root of capitalism. The Native Americans had land, needed for profit and expansion, and the slaves were needed to work that land. These values and ideology also spill over into gender issues. Native American men and women had equal power in their cultures. This was directly linked to the non-capitalist society in which they originally resided. There is further evidence to support this in the end of matriarchy and the beginning of patriarchy in Native American societies with the introduction of capitalism. White men and women already resided in a capitalist society and their power was unequal. The values and ideology that come with capitalism put the power in the hand...
