The open frontier, the hardships of homesteading from scratch, the wealth of natural resources, the whole vast challenge of a continent waiting to be exploited, combined to produce a prevailing materialism and an American drive bent as much, if not more, on money, property, and power than was true of the Old World from which we had fled.

Summary

This quote highlights how the opportunities and challenges presented by the American frontier shaped the mentality of the early settlers. The vast resources and the need to build from scratch fostered a strong focus on material possessions and financial success. It suggests that the American drive for wealth, property, and power surpassed that of the European societies they left behind.

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