Issues it would be helpful to unbundle when talking about capitalism: Contract law. "Capitalism" here usually means private voluntary agreements are very sacre

Issues it would be helpful to unbundle when talking about capitalism: Contract law. "Capitalism" here usually means private voluntary agreements are very sacred or absolutely sacred. Property law. "Capitalism" here usually means a rule of first possession. Tax law. "Capitalism" here usually means a presumption against taxation, especially if redistributive in purpose. Limited liability. "Capitalism" here usually means possibility of absentee investors. Fiduciary duties. "Capitalism" here usually means duty to maximize shareholders' economic value. Antitrust law. "Capitalism" here, as term is used by self-perceived opponents, usually refers to corporate bigness. Etc. Was Thomas Jefferson capitalist? He hated bigness in all forms. Was Thomas Paine capitalist? He thought rule of first possession was useful because easy to administer but proposed something akin to universal basic income. Important to be clear, as many others have noted in the comments.