The Corporate Reconstruction of American Capitalism, 1890-1916: The Market, the Law, and Politics

Martin J. Sklar

Cambridge University Press, Apr 29, 1988 - Business & Economics - 484 pages

At the turn of the twentieth century American politics underwent a profound change, as both regulatory minimalism and statist command were rejected in favor of positive government engaged in both regulatory and distributive roles. Through a fresh examination of the judicial, legislative, and political aspects of the antitrust debates in the years from 1890-1916, Martin Sklar shows that the arguments did not arise simply because of competition versus combination, but because of the larger question of the proper relations between government and the market and between state and society.

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User Review -

after all records in The Hansard on Tocqueville's reception in British parliament ever since his democratic and/or American best seller (1840) - the question remains largely open if only because so many have rallied to this sociological legerdemain (...) when international relations would be a thing of the past.
We all can witness where such a course is taking us: right back to The Hansard and British MP's warning about such issues as The Iron and Steel Bill" - their fright - at least the Conservatives among them - of nationalizations and public service in general.
Clarity of expression for what would sound hackneyed reiterates a debate which academics in general have abdicated as their fuzzy mandate etc.
from Winnipeg, Canada
Charles-Emmanuel Reesink 

Contents

• Introduction Corporate capitalism and corporate liberalism: 1
• Mode of production and social movements: 4
• Ascending and declining stages of capitalism: 14
• Class metamorphosis and corporate reconstruction: 20
• Corporate capitalism and American liberalism: 33
• Metamorphosis in property and thought: 43
• Property: 47
• The market: 53
• Hadley and Jenks: 57
• Conant: 62
• Marginal utility Americanized: 68
• Conant Keynes and Marx: 72
• Corporate capitalism and imperialism: 78
• Conclusion: 85
• The corporate reconstruction and the antitrust law: 86
• Before the Sherman Act: 93
• The Sherman Act: 105
• Judicial construction 18901897: 117
• Coup de jure: 127
• Restoration: 146
• American corporations European cartels: 154
• The corporateliberal alternative: 166
• Conclusion: 173
• The politics of antitrust: 179
• Bureau of Corporations v US Supreme Court: 184
• The movement for Sherman Act revision: 203
• The Hepburn bill: 228
• The defeat of the Hepburn bill: 253
• Between Roosevelt and Wilson: 285
• Toward a trade commission: 309
• The corporateliberal solution: 324
• Two progressive presidents: 333
• Roosevelt: 334
• Taft: 364
• Woodrow Wilson and the corporateliberal ascendancy: 383
• A history of developments: 384
• A modus vivendi in America for happiness: 392
• A middle ground between socialism and capitalism: 401
• A worldwide economic tendency: 412
• The modern idea: 419
• Conclusion Fathers and prophets: 431
• Bibliography: 442
• Index: 461

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Corporate Reconstruction of American Capitalism, 1890-1916: The Market, the Law, and Politics
• Author: Martin J. Sklar
• Edition: illustrated, reprint
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1988
• ISBN: 0521313821, 9780521313827
• Length: 484 pages
• Subjects: Business & Economics / Economic History; Business & Economics / Industries / General; History / United States / General; Law / General; Political Science / Public Policy / General