Stock
All of the shares into which ownership of the corporation is divided
Real World Example
During the settlement of North America, stocks were crucial as they allowed people to invest in ventures like the Virginia Company, which funded the Jamestown colony. These stocks represented ownership in the company and gave people a chance to profit from the success of these new colonies. The stock system enabled shared financial risks and potential rewards, encouraging more people to support exploration and settlement. Today, stocks remain important as they allow individuals to invest in and own parts of companies, like buying shares in Apple or Tesla. This means people can financially benefit from a company's growth, much like investors hoped to profit from early American settlements, highlighting the lasting value of shared risk and ownership.