American Industrialization

American Industrialization Nathan Bates AIU Online Abstract This paper explores industrialization and how the process impacted events in American history. The American Industrial Revolution was immensely consequential and influenced events which have produced the modern society of today. Secondly, this essay will provide descriptions of both, positive and negative, effects that industrialization has had on the lives of Americans and the nation as a whole. Lastly, an analysis of how the Industrial Revolution in American history served as a benefit or a detriment to the nation and the citizens of America.
American Industrialization Historically, industrialization of any society marks an experience and phase of historic significance. In addition to practices such as farm production, societies are awarded the process of manufacturing, producing an astounding and substantial impact in every aspect of life (Beck, 1999). As a result of the American Industrial Revolution, modern society benefited from advances in technology, employment increases, and an overall improvement in the quality of daily life. American Industrial Revolution: Positive Effects
Developments of industrialization positively affected Americans during the Industrial Revolution. Two advances during this period that had an impact on society and escalated American advancement were transportation and the creation of jobs. Transportation vastly improved the lives of citizens with the completion of roads, canal systems, steamboats, the Transcontinental Railroad and public mass transit (Lipovac, 2011). Innovations in textiles, steam power and iron works produced numerous jobs which brought many individuals looking for work into the cities (Bond, 2003).

As people moved from rural to urban areas, cities progressed and expanded which led to vast amounts of innovations, greatly improving the quality of life for citizens as well as improved commerce and economy for the nation as a whole. American Industrial Revolution: Negative Effects The speed at which progression and innovation were occurring led to many negatives as the nation scrambled to adapt. Damage to the environment as well as exploitation of workers are situations that arose during the Industrial Revolution.
Factories and industry failed to adequately account for ecological considerations which have led to climate change being a modern day challenge (Han, 2012). Additionally, as employment exploded, the amount of hours worked, pay rates for employees, child labor practices, and workplace safety had little or no regulations (Hopkins, 1982). As time progressed many of the work place issues were addressed as well was the formation of organized labor which gave workers a voice.
Despite the vast advantages the American Industrial Revolution provided society, the speed in which changes were taking place provided many opportunities to make mistakes and learn as a nation. Beneficial or Detrimental to America Overall, the events and innovations that created the American Industrial Revolution were immensely beneficial to the America we know today. Although there were many opportunities to learn from the changes the country encountered, the positive impact industrialization had on society was magnificent.
Improvements in transportation caused the world as a whole to become a much smaller place as travel and communication greatly improved. Work place conditions and practices eventually became regulated, fair, and safer for the American workforce. Modern American society owes a great debt to industrialization as it was one of the most transformational series of events in the nation’s history. Conclusion Not unlike the prehistoric discovery of fire and the wheel, American industrialization left future generations with a foundation and the tools for unprecedented innovation.
The more recent revolution in technology, namely the internet and cell phone devices, owe a debt to the revolutionary period of American industrialization. The United States as well as society worldwide has continued to grow, expand, and continuously innovate in the wake of the Industrial Revolution. References Beck, R. (1999). World History: Patterns of Interaction. Evanston, Illinois: McDougal Littell. Retrieved from http://www. owasso. k12. ok. us/webpages/gyankey/regadvhandouts. cfm? ubpage=174609 Bond, Gingerich, Archer-Antonsen, Purcell, & Macklem (2003-02-17). “The Industrial Revolution – Innovations”. Industrialrevolution. sea. ca. Retrieved 2011-01-30. Han, S. (2012). From the Industrial Revolution to a green revolution. OECD Observer, 94-95. Hopkins, E. (1982). Working Hours and Conditions During the Industrial Revolution: A Re-Appraisal. Economic History Review, 35(1), 52-66. Lipovac, N. , & Jandricek, A. (2011). THE LAND SURVEY AND TRANSPORTATION PLANNING IMPACT UPON MAKING OF AMERICAN CITIES. Prostor, 19(2), 443-455.