American History from the years 1865 to 2000
America industrial rose between 18th to 19th centuries during which the era was mostly critical as it was experienced by the countryside societies in America in order to become industrialized and metropolitan. Before the revolution of manufacturing most of the production occurred in homes in which hand tools and simple and fundamental machines were used (Meyer, 15). The industrialization growth in America continued steadily through that American civil war still it continued after the war. Typically the American industry was small as there was a limitation of industries capacity to produce. Most of the business back then served as small markets and they also lacked capital for the business expansion (Meyer, 54). After the civil way in America, the American industry changed drastically as hand labor was replaced by machines in which manufacturing increased and the capacity of production was tremendous.
Industrialization did not just happen as many strategies were put together to see it happen. To begin with, there was the construction of railway network that was used to distribute the goods far and wide. The first transcontinental railway had begun earlier but due to the civil war it was delayed in 1865 and was completed in 1869 (Meyer, 156). Inventors did also play a very important role as they invented and developed new products that the vast majority of the American market wanted which made the business make the products in large quantities. There was also a revolution in the banks as they supplied the investors with the huge amounts of money that were used to expand the inventor's operations (Meyer, 54).
By the year 1880 American industries were employing thousands of workers on a daily basis. There was a transformation of life as there was a light bulb, artificial lighting, ready-made clothing, canned food and other numerous advances were experienced as a result of industrialization as well as open market transaction (Bensel, 356). Being the pioneers of industrialization the country started experiencing huge numbers of immigrants that resulted to cheap labor. As a result, products become easy to make to the mechanization of the industries in which the laborers were only required to do repetitive work which made it easier to replace them in case of any injury.
In the 19th century, there was a rise in a number of cities, more railway lines, ports facilities were expanded in which the progress was visible. Large business come up in which they required managers, clerks, white collar works, and accountants (Bensel, 289). This demand made a huge progress in the people’s lives in America as the middle class prospered better than way before. Despite the challenges that faced industrialization, there were reforms taking place. Working hours were reduced increasing leisure time for the workers. In 1882 September 2nd there was a celebration that marked the first Labor Day in the city of New York.
In the 19th century, there was there was a new aristocracy in America that was driven by industrialization. The industrialist had great captains in the industry that made them have sufficient power to bridle them from the government as they ensured that there was freedom that was meant to protect the people from the moneyed aristocrats (Bensel, 355). The rise of industries in America led to a transformation of the country from an agriculture one to a more industrialized one that has led to urbanization of the society. America industrialization has led to significant changes making America a super power nation that any countries emulate up to date.
Work cited
Bensel, Richard F. The Political Economy of American Industrialization, 1877 - 1900. Cambridge [u.a.: Cambridge Univ. Press, 2000. Print.
Meyer, David R. The Roots of American Industrialization. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2003. Print.