Mary Flug Handlin

Origins of the American Business Corporation

The concentration of business enterprise in corporate structures at the end of the last century called the attention of scholars to the history of the business corporation, the chartered joint-stock company. Even those who agreed that “the honour of originally inventing these political constitutions entirely belongs to the Romans†realized that their modern economic functions were relatively recent and demanded explanation. In this country, Willistons brilliant essay, the studies of Simeon Baldwin, and a number of other investigations probed into the origin and nature of the institution at about the period when it became a pressing social issue.

Commonwealth: A Study of the Role of Government in the American Economy: Massachusetts, 1774-1861

Abbreviations Chapter 1. Foundations of Political Power 2. Consolidation of Political Power 3. To Encourage Industry and Economy 4. The State in Association 5. Commonwealth and Corporation 6. The Law of Private Rights in a Commonwealth 7. Acquiescence as State Policy 8. Social Disorganization and Economic Policy 9. Liberal Humanitarianism 10. The Reform State Appendixes A. Statistics of the Constitutional Convention of 1780 B. Representation in the General Court, 1780-1820 C. Letter to the President and Directors of the Banks in Boston D. Opinion of the Attorney General of Massachusetts, on the Life of the Corporation, 1802 E. Edward Everett on the Public Debt F. Artisan Grievances Against the Corporation G. Memoranda on the Role of Government in American Economic Development Note on the Sources Index