Labor and Industrialization in American History
The phrase ‘Rise Of Smokestack America’ is often used in reference to the industrial revolution during which America’s industrial growth led to the growth of factories and modern cities, the development of social classes due to division of labor and race. During this period, the American labor force transformed tremendously as the nation evolved from a largely agricultural society into a relatively modern society.
Role of Labor Force in the Transition from Agriculture to Industrialization
Until the late nineteenth century, the United States was still an agrarian community. As factories sprouted to process the products obtained from agriculture and to manufacture farm equipment, there rose
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The laborers understood the need for new equipment and considered investments for new machines that would in turn bring about other newer machines. This helped them to gain surplus from the labor which is the only factor that could add value during the process of production.
The structural manifestation of the economy manifested itself in two ways. First, each sector’s contribution to the total income of the nation changed in the course of economic growth. As this happened, the nature of the work that laborers performed was also transformed (Olson 288). The value of agriculture as the principal employer started to diminish. As a result, attention of laborers shifted to the manufacturing sector.
In addition, during economic development, the structure of the labor force changed. For instance, preference for white collar jobs was prominent among a labor force that had previously been mostly blue collar. The economy of America as a nation became more industry and service oriented. In addition, the manpower needs and requirements were transformed.
Why Labor Aided in the Transformation of America into an Industrialized Nation
Before the Industrial Revolution, production was small-scale and was performed in homesteads using basic, hand-operated machines or hand tools. Industrialization brought high-powered machines that were more efficient and enabled mass production. The laborers were attracted to towns by the prospects of paid labor and
However before the booming period of the Industrial Revolution most products were done without or the rudimentary use of machines and had taken place in the homes of families. Much of the manufacturing had been done by female laboring and by the rural industry. With the manufacturing being relied upon the skill of the individual laborer, it gave the proletariat higher value.
The Industrial Revolution was of great importance to the economic development of the United States. The new era of mass production kindled in the United States because of technological innovations, a patent system, new forms of factory corporations, a huge supply of natural resources, and foreign investment. The growth of large-scale industry in America had countless positive results, but also negative results as well. Industrialization after the Civil War affected the United States in several ways including poverty, poor labor laws, and the condition of the people.
America had a huge industrial revolution in the late 1800”s. Many changes happened to our great nation, which factored into this. The evidence clearly shows that advancements in new technology, a large wave of immigrants into our country and new views of our government, helped to promote America’s huge industrial growth from the period of 1860-1900.
As workers moved to cities to work in factories, and progress in medical and sanitation practices improved, urban crowding became a huge issue. Additionally, where industry was taking over production in markets that had previously been dominated by small business owners, these skilled workers, weavers and the like, were now being forced to take jobs working for capitalist ventures-- often working in the industry coinciding with their master skill, but
The last aspect is political, the political aspect of the politics reflected to the business and not to the poor urban people or to the working class. The Federal, State, and local politicians gave land grants and government contracts to their friends and supporters for public works (Schultz, 2013). The political corruption was a big problem during the Industrialization because businessmen took their agendas to the politicians whom the businessmen exchanged for cash or stock to obtain a land grant, but with the exchanges that turned into a public scandal which became The Credit Mobilier Scandal (Schultz, 2013). The political aspect in the Industrialization era was a lot of scandal’s and a lot of bribing people of their money.
Before the Industrial Revolution the poor rural population had few ways of earning a living except the unreliable income the got from farming. New textile machines were the first to put people
During the late 1700’s, the United States was no longer a possession of Britain, instead it was a market for industrial goods and the world’s major source for tobacco, cotton, and other agricultural products. A labor revolution started to occur in the United States throughout the early 1800’s. There was a shift from an agricultural economy to an industrial market system. After the War of 1812, the domestic marketplace changed due to the strong pressure of social and economic forces. Major innovations in transportation allowed the movement of information, people, and merchandise. Textile mills and factories became an important base for jobs, especially for women. There was also widespread
The increasing population provided more workers for industrial business. Many of these new workers were unskilled and did not share in the economic
During the late 1700’s, the United States was no longer a possession of Britain, instead it was a market for industrial goods and the world’s major source for tobacco, cotton, and other agricultural products. A labor revolution started to occur in the United States throughout the early 1800’s. There was a shift from an agricultural economy to an industrial market system. After the War of 1812, the domestic marketplace changed due to the strong pressure of social and economic forces. Major innovations in transportation allowed the movement of information, people, and merchandise. Textile mills and factories became an important base for jobs, especially for women. There was also widespread economic growth during this time period
During the late 1800's, America grew to become one of the nation’s leading industrial nations. The first industrial revolution had changed its pace from working on factories to the advanced transportation in the west
After the Civil War, the United States went through a period of rapid industrialization which affected the nation dramatically. Industrial growth, the spread of railroads, the rise of big businesses, and the appearance of labor unions during these decades created a modern industrial economy, and American workers and farmers faced new challenges in adapting to these changes.
Throughout the 16-18th centuries, many socioeconomic changes occurred due to the shift from an agriculturally centered society to a more industrialized, mechanized, and invention-creating world. One such change can be found in the transition from the cottage to the factory system.
There is no question that the Industrial Revolution had an enormous impact on American society between 1870 and 1940, but the question is what kind of an impact did it have during this period. The overall effect of the Industrial Revolution turned out to be a positive push towards modernization in America. As Stephen Gardiner, a British architect and writer during the 20th century, said, “The Industrial Revolution was another one of those extraordinary jumps forward in the story of civilization.” While Gardiner hit the nail on the head with his quote, the part of the story that most people tend to forget is just how quickly we Americans, made that extraordinary jump forward. There were Americans, who, at one point in their life were
The introduction of machinery into factories was the single most important factor in the explosion of the industrial system. The introduction of machinery increased the per
Not many could have anticipated the rapid rise of the European industry that was realized from industrial revolution. As a note, dominance in wage labor, rapid growth of cities and evolution of industries mostly from steel and iron factories were perhaps the greatest changes that were experienced. In economic changes, manifestations were evident through the increased rates of immigration to better places, rapid growth of cities as centers of trade and changes in the type of work and working structures. Socially, reorganization of family was experienced as well as changes in ownership of jobs, rural to urban migration as well as where and when to work (Lynn et al. 413-414). Politics also played a great role in