Why is the US capitalist?

Answer 1

As a purely definitional question, the United States is a mixed economy, but is primarily a free-market capitalist economy. Most businesses are owned by private individuals and the government does not control investment or business choices.

As a historical question, the US economy developed in contrast to the mercantilist principles envisioned by the British colonial authorities. The colonies were designed to export raw materials back to Britain and then purchase finished goods from Britain. Since the prices of these commodities were very much inflated, many colonists became entrepreneurs, producing goods and services locally. Others starting smuggling businesses in order to bring locally produced goods or goods in foreign colonies (such as Spanish or French colonies) to the American doorstep. The entire American Revolution was fought over how American entrepreneurship and smuggling was providing an escape from the taxes imposed on British goods. Since private enterprise had become so much of the American identity, it was only natural that it would continue after the country achieved independence.