The Influence of the Puritan Legacy on American Businesses

The history of American business began with the colonial period. This was a time of great changes resulting in new inventions and new ways to bring in more business. The revolution affected business systems with the advent of peace in 1783.  After 1789, the success of American Business resulted from the creation of the world's largest internal market. The large geographical area helped to promote its growth. Necessary elements for market trading were fulfilled. The merchants enjoyed the benefits of the success, enjoying luxury goods and fine homes. This was also known as the puritan legacy.

Benjamin Franklin expressed puritan values such as “ a penny saved is a penny earned” and “ Lose no time; be always employ’d in something useful cut off all unnecessary actions. This helped promote the importance of the American business system.New inventions were an important aspect in the development of American business. Merchants endorsed bills of exchange, which circulated as a kind of currency. The business practices began to change after 1740 when the economy started growing. 

By mid-1750s, many merchants were leaning towards using double-entry bookkeeping. It became a widely known method, which gained prominence in the economy. New handbooks began circulating which helped regulate business methods. Soon thereafter, Colonial newspapers were established which held vital statistics of the economy including trade statistics, commodity prices, and shipping information. The clearing of land for farms and the development businesses led to colonial America’s prosperous period. It’s important to note that the initiatives held by the merchants’ beliefs of wealth accumulation gave insight into successful business enterprises. The risks and ventures taken by the merchants ranked them into the highest social class. The puritan views influenced the growth of the colonial period leading to a system known as Capitalism.

The success of American business would not have been possible without the Puritan Legacy delivered by the Calvinists. The legacy holds an emphasis on working hard and attaining prosperity by doing so. With God being a prominent figure in Puritan values, many saw his power as an inspiration. Theologist John Calvin helped stress the importance of God and salvation. Hard work was the element of salvation, an idea that blended nicely with colonial society, leading to a Protestant ethic. It was seen that all abide by the Lords teachings, harvesting life’s resources and creating wealth. These ideas were assisted by the writings of Benjamin Franklin, who once said, “A penny saved is a penny earned”. His prominence in the community helped popularize these ideas, reaching the growing population and an understanding of Puritan values. A new system, Capitalism, was formed bringing forth a new age in the accumulation of wealth.

Henry Ford: The most successful businessman of his time

If one could look back in time and view the great achievements made in the 20^th century, Henry Ford would be one that would provide a remarkable story of how he was able to accomplish what many could not, through continuous determination and vigilance. His rag to riches tale is one that is inspiring, leaving us with hope for our goals.

 His story begins in Michigan, where he grew up into the farming life. His family worked hard to provide for their family. His father was a dictatorial man who wanted him to succeed in every way that he could. He allowed his son to work on machinery to make the farm life easier, than working on the farm itself. Henry had a passion for figuring out machinery. He began by working with wristwatches, taking them apart and studying the inside in the way it operated. His curiosity led him to go on to study machinery, where he walked 9 miles to Detroit to stay with his Aunt in order to gain more experience there.

         By relocating in order to achieve his goal, he worked long hours in many different shops as an expert machinist. At 31, he landed a job at the Edison Illuminating Company, which led to his success in building the first horseless carriage. He knew transportation was difficult and wanted to make a drastic change. His goal was to make a car available to everyone and not just the wealthy. After all the hard work and studying into developing the first horseless carriage, he finally drove his own on June 4^th, 1896.

         Henry Ford captured the attention of his community as well as many prominent people, eager to invest in his new horseless carriage. But his investors wanted the car to be available only to the wealthy since it would be considered a luxury car. Ford however, given that he was once born poor, did not agree to this decision, leading to them backing down. Nothing stopped Ford from moving forward with his idea, even if his investors didn’t agree anymore.His great audacity led him to incorporate his own company; Ford Motor Company.

         The implementation of his new company began working on many models of cars which each had its own unique set of problems that came with it until he developed the Model T. It was the best car built out of all the models, rarely breaking down and not needing much maintenance. It sold for a price affordable by many and soon became the most popular car in America. Finally, those who were stuck at home or on the farm were able to explore America like never before.

         With the enormous success he encountered from his inventions, he was able to afford to have a family with the wealth he accumulated. He married Clara Bryant and had only one child, a son named Edsel. Henry adored Edsel as he lived up to his expectations. His son Edsel would later become a strong businessman just like him. He was chosen to be head of Ford Motor Company by his father. But there were some conflicts soon after he became appointed. When things didn’t go his way, Henry became upset and confronted him. Edsel felt humiliated at times which began to weaken his relationship with his father.

         With the amount of power Henry Ford had from his success, he used it in a manner, which upset many people. He wanted to control everything on his own, not giving credit to anyone but himself. Henry particularly had distaste amongst the Jewish community stating that they wanted all the power. This was a bad rap for his reputation and many others started going against him. His ego was questioned in a courtroom one day, and he was shunned when he knew he was illiterate in answering many of the questions asked. This reminded him of his early years where he was not educated properly. He was forced to work on his image once again.

         As the 20^th century rolled into the 1920’s, many people were investing in higher end luxury cars, which made Henry contemplate on the matter of materialism and what is important. This made him feel uncomfortable but he had to accept it. Due to the Model T being on the market for a long time and other new innovative cars being developed, his sales dropped drastically. In 1927, Ford implemented a new plan and developed a Model A car. It received great reviews and gave Henry the limelight once again.

         As the Great Depression formed, sales of the Model A stalled leading him to lower his employee count. It was a hard time for Ford Motor Company with their profits lowering about 50 percent. His relationship with his son Edsel became weak due to their differences in the way the handled the company. Henry did not approve of his personal life, especially him drinking. Edsel saw his father’s way of running the company harsh due to the way he treated his employees. Henry Ford later dealt with union strikes, which caused him to fight for his power.

         In his later years, Henry saw the death of his son Edsel which shattered him. He knew that he wasn’t such a great father to him and regretted treating him unfairly. He continued to run as the president of Ford Motors but his health was deteriorating. Henry died on April 7^th, 1947 and his grandson Henry took over the company and the once called Fordlandia was transformed back into a jungle.

The Legacy of Nathaniel Rogers

            I recently read Natalie A. Naylor's in-depth biography on Nathaniel Rogers in the Long Island Historical Journal, which sheds light on this prominent individual who left behind a legacy that still stands today in Bridgehampton, Long Island, NY.  Many overlook him today in the 21st century, but the home he left behind marks an important aspect of his life, through the architecture, which tells a story of its own.

            Naylor begins by providing an intimate view of Mr.Rogers early life and family. John Topping Rogers and Sarah Brown welcomed ‘Nathan’ into this world on August 1^st, 1787 in Bridgehampton, NY. His other siblings included three brothers and a sister. The farming life was part of his family occupation and his oldest brother John Rogers had the first choice in inheriting the family farmland. At age 15, he became a shipbuilder and within one year he made “ the most fortunate cut he ever made” by injuring his knee. Naylor makes this an important point because it is from this accident that led him to transpire his career into a completely different one. 

            Nathaniel returned home to Bridgehampton to recover under the care of Dr. Samuel H. Rose. It is under his care that Dr. Rose provided artistic endeavors for Mr.Rogers to undertake while he was recovering in bed. Through this healing, Mr.Rogers discovered an unknown talent of his own through painting. He started by copying miniatures and painting some portraits of his friends. This later led him to travel to New York City to study with other miniaturists. He eventually opened up his own studio at the age of 24. His work was first exhibited at the American Academy of Fine Arts in 1817, which provided his work the much needed attention it deserved.

            The writer discusses the importance of portrait miniatures which most of us are not familiar with today. It is undeserved mostly because it is a misunderstood art form. But the beauty in the process of making these miniature portraits requires a great amount of detail and hard work, which made them highly valuable. Naylor gives great insight in the process of how these miniatures were made, first on Ivory then degreased, bleached, and smoothed, later being attached to a card or paper. When finished, the portraits were placed in an oval locket and traditionally given as a memento. Those who owned a miniature could display or hide it in their pocket. It provided a sentimental value and sometimes a lock of hair was placed it behind to signify its importance. Naylor states the reason for the decline in the popularity of these miniatures, due to the development of photography, marking an end of an era for this specific art form.

            Mr.Rogers was very successful in his career as an artist in New York City from 1815 through the 1830s. During this time he was given the chance to capture some prominent people of his day such as Philip Livingston, Mrs. Stephen Van Rensselaer and Chancellor Robert Livingston. Naylor was able to identify more than one hundred portraits made by him and that is only just a small percentage of his work. His popularity as a miniaturist gave him the wealth his father once contemplated him having.  Rest assured, Nathaniel proved this by supporting his family along with other close friends as an artist, sending money from New York City. His career as a miniaturist lasted until 1839, when he retired in his early fifties to Bridgehampton, thanks to the amount of wealth he accumulated over the years.

            Mr. Rogers purchased a house from Judge Abraham T. Rose, the son of the doctor who originally helped him discover his unknown talent as a miniaturist. He remodeled the house, expanding and turning it into a fashionable Greek Revival style home. The interior of his home was lavishly furnished and displayed many fine amenities such as a pianoforte and an organ. His residence was one not to miss, as it stood on the corner of the very busy main street in Bridgehampton. The time he spent in his retired home is short as he died a few years later on December 6^th, 1844 at age fifty-seven.

            After the death of Mr.Rogers, the house was passed on through various owners over the years. The writer notes an important turning point for the home in 1894, when Capt. John Hedges, purchased and renovated the house, turning it into a first class hotel, named “The Hampton House”. This gave life to the house and community again as it attracted many people to spend their summers there. The house gained its popularity due to its lavish hospitality and good food along with its stunning exterior presence. The commute for those traveling from New York City to Bridgehampton by train was made accessible. They were provided transportation from the train station by carriage to the Hampton House. It remained open until the late 1940’s and soon thereafter the house slowly deteriorated, due to the lack of maintenance.

            By the 21^st century, the house was endangered of being taken over by a shopping plaza. Thankfully, The Town of Southampton purchased the property along with another six acres for a high price of over 3 million dollars, due to the architectural significance of the house.  It is one of twenty-three structures in Suffolk County that earned a spot in the Historic American Buildings Survey. Naylor provides additional evidence of its importance from the New York State’s Long Island Landmarks, which stated “One of the best Greek Revival structures in the state, with two-story Ionic columns across its front center. The local pride typified by a recent repainting holds out a bright future for the area.” The house once remodeled and expanded by Mr.Rogers, is currently being restored and will open as the Nathaniel Rogers House Museum in the near future.  This will bring the deserved recognition to this artist who enhanced Main Street with his remodeled home, leaving us an important part of architectural history, as it is a rare Greek Revival Structure still standing in Bridgehampton today.