“American Commodities in an Age of Empire” Book Review
Introduction
The book, “American Commodities in an Age Empire” by Mona Domosh explores how American organizations established an “Informal” domain throughout the late 19th century and early 20th centuries as they developed into international markets. During this period, organizations used images of foreign individuals as well as places to promote their commodities to domestic clients. The author explores five major American International organizations that participated during these periods. These organizations include the Singer Manufacturing Organization, Eastman Kodak Company, McCormick Harvesting Machine Organization, and the New York Life Insurance Company. Besides, Domosh reviews how images of individuals abroad conveyed via goods elevated America’s sense of itself globally. This paper will explore the relationship between commercialism, consumerism, and imperialism during the first empire development of America in the early centuries.
The book demonstrates how American imperialism was a business venture of producing products and enhancing international markets. The authors demonstrate how American organizations in the late 19th and the late 20th centuries used foreign economic and cultural dominance were attained through the civilizing ‘uplift’. American imperialism during the time was enacted through everyday acts of wanting and using. Domosh demonstrates how the three organizations created visual as well as textual images that linked their commodities with ideas of progress and civilization. The author explores the importance of magazine ads and promotions and how they benefit the companies to their growth and development. During this time, the three organizations considered promotional trade cards that featured individuals in diverse countries using sewing machines. The promotional cards emphasized the way individuals across the globe considered oversees business in enhancing international relations.
The authors explore how the first international companies positioned their actions by selling products abroad oversee to the increase in profits. This was part of the civilization procedure of sharing the benefits of industrial development with others. Besides, the idea enhanced relationships as well as the increased relationship between people, cultures, nations, as well as regions. The development of technology during the time enhanced farming techniques by increasing produces and returns. The aspect of imperialism enhanced the relationship of the organization through socioeconomic activities. During the time, power was imposed in other states ensured that foreigners bought commodities from America. Countries were forced to believe that America was the only state that produced products. Therefore, in the 19th and 20th centuries, it is clear that American foreign was mainly geared toward the expansion of foreign markets. Through imperialism, American political and economic elites were not interested in territorial colonies but they considered increasing enhancing American mass-produced goods.
America was primarily engaged in informal imperialism. The economic elites during the 19th and 20th centuries considered promoting trade as well as economic integration that would only suit the needs of United States organizations. The American empire was focused on ordinary business transactions as well as political tactics. This demonstrates how imperialism was enacted in the grocery stores, on the docks, and at home to enhance business. America expanded its markets internationally by enforcing power to other nations. More than a few nations globally believed America was the only state that would supply commodities. As a result, America was considered to have successful businesses globally. In the early 1870s and 1880s, the fundamental markets for United States goods were Western and Eastern Europe. America used to send large armies to these regions and establish colonies. American organizations supported the war in the year 1898 for patriotic reasons and as a result, they started trading. At the time, American commodities competed successfully with British locally manufactured products but it was America that made huge revenues.
Success in mass productions was influenced by technologies Americans used in innovating marketing strategies. More than a few entrepreneurs considered American commodities because it was suitable. America’s economic imperialism was essentially based on making as well as selling mass-produced goods. Innovation and other production facilities such as Taylorist allowed United States manufacturers to produce quality and affordable goods suitable for middle-class families. America was well-developed and linked with railways and shipping networks that enabled companies to move goods over large distances. According to the author, the idea of marketing and advertising approaches like establishing outlets abroad promoted American-produced goods on the streets as well as homes in London. This is how American organizations capitalized on their competitive advantage in the mass manufacturing of products and market them oversees. The United States government played a key role in pursuing a foreign policy that established these achievements. Circulation of commodities by American organization enabled them to dominate most markets globally. This is how America became famous through production and marketing.
According to the author, the American Civil War was a vital turning point for more than a few manufacturing organizations. For instance, the new Singer Manufacturing organizations at the time benefited a lot during the Civil War. America’s internal market was highly affected by the war and most businesses considered oversees as the best places to transact their businesses. The loss of sales within the state opened the opportunity for international transactions. Singer Company was the only organization that dominated Asia in 1889 before other states moved to the level of internationalization. The use of policies set by the American government enabled American based organizations to succeed internationally by enforcing powers that enabled the local states to purchase goods from them. American organizations considered using images for advertisement. For instance, the image of Zululand was interesting because it depicted black people as attention-getters and not for potential users as whites.
Conclusion
The demonstration of these images appeared like racism by an American organization that considered African images in advertisements as gimmicks. Whites’ images on products were used differently compared to that of blacks before America introduced ‘modern ads’. For instance, products that involved white people were considered for complexion and good intentions. The foreigners, in this case, were presented as their transformation and for advertising commodities like the Africans. For instance, Singer Machines demonstrated that the commodities could make people ‘white’ if used by blacks. This was a demonstration to depict that the black people are developed and are allowed to purchase such a commodity because they are humans like whites. The notion of these ads influenced the world to come together and share products without considering color or race. The flexible approach by American organizations approached seems natural. This is how American dominated the world’s commercial networks by allowing people of all races to purchase their products. The use or art collection by some of the American companies contributed significantly to the civilization of many states globally.