End of Isolation in America - Essay Example

? End of Isolation End of Isolation Introduction Before 1856 and even after 1856 till today, America has experienced various changes in the areas of society, politics and economy. US have been recognized and have proven to be a land that provided opportunity to the citizens before us and the citizens that are currently residing in US. The history of America informs individuals about the various victories that the nation has experienced during war times. Little emphasis has been given to the technological advancements and these advancements have led to the change of the face of the nation. Dorn and McClellan state in their work that society consisting of human beings has experienced numerous changes due to technology (McClellan, 1999, p.276). Changes in technology has even assisted America in several ways and has resulted in eliminating America’s social isolation, elevating economic growth, assisting in strategizing the military section and uniting the American people mentally and physically. Body The gap between the citizens of America has decreased due to increase in technological advancements since 1865. The new advancements have made various changes, these advancements have helped: in making research and development an easier task, sharing information and education, socializing with other and changed complex tasks into simple ones. These changes have assisted US in transferring and receiving information in both oral and written format. One of the major technological advancements experienced since 1875 was the creation of telephone by Alexander Graham Bell, this advancement was made as Graham Bell was quite motivated by the providing education to the deaf (Keenan, 2001, p.51). Other advancements that came to the forefront were the introduction of machines used to increase productivity, vehicles used for transportation of mass quantity of resources, and the typewriter. These advancements led to the research and development of much sophisticated technologies. The people of the United States were divided and had a conflict with each other during the period of Reconstruction. The American citizens were focused on and were very concerned about the disastrous effects of the Civil and the political wars that were being experienced by the nation during that era. The difference of opinion among the citizens and the wish to learn new things resulted in higher desire for technological advancements. During this period, the citizens felt the need for technology that could help them in moving from one end to another and to communicate their views to others. These needs led to the development of railroads and telegram during the 19th century, railroads accomplished the need for traveling and telegram led to the accomplishment of the need for communication (Bowles, 2011, p.47). During the period of the 1900s technological advancements were slow in speed to happen as compared to the technological advancements experienced by the Americans today. Technological advancements have even aided the students of America in gaining diverse amount of information and learn things in a better manner. Before computers came into existence, people in America were restricted to their libraries and educators for information purpose. Today, American students use internet and online sources to obtain information and with the aid of this information they develop themselves and gain acceptability throughout the world in different organizations. Politicians and people representing political arena use the means of technology to gain popularity in order to get elected in the higher rankings of the political arena. These advancements are used by interest groups and political personalities to change the perception of the citizens of the citizens and to gain support for the enactment of new practices and regulations. The telegram has been replaced by digital technology such as the mobile phones. The digital technolo0gy has been used by the President Obama, he used email to obtain support for his plan of generating economic growth within America during 2009 (Time, 2009). Email has helped the people of America to get connected and communicate with people within America as well as outside America and this technology has aided in ending the isolation from society experienced by America over the years. During and after the end of the Civil War, technology has assisted the US population in earning money, it has even aided in connecting the rural areas and the rural population with the urban population and areas. Rural areas experienced a great change when President Franklin Roosevelt added electricity to the rural population of US under the Rural Electrification Act. With this change the rural population enjoyed various benefits such as they started watching movies, television and they started listening to radio. This change brought in by the great president aided in ending the seclusion f the citizens of US who were located in the rural centers. This act even helped the rural population in getting more business and the unemployment rate started declining, the act further aided businesses in making profits and gaining economic growth. Electricity is a major part of every human being and is considered as an essential portion of American lives. Electricity serves various purposes in the lives of American individuals, electricity is used in various walks of life such as refrigerators, television, machinery used to produce goods and services and other essential appliances. Electricity has enabled businesses to compete and operate in a better manner, it provides consumer with several comfortable shopping options. According to a survey and research conducted by the Energy Information Administration of the US, the amount of electricity consumed during the period of 2010 was thirteen times higher as compared to the amount of electricity consumed during 1950. Electricity has aided in ending the American isolation as it has aided American citizens in using consumer goods that operate on electricity. Electricity did not only changed and benefited the way Americans lived; it did not only provided them with digital products to provide a comfortable life to the citizens of US, it even provided means of travelling in a better fashion to the Americans. During the period of 1906, America experienced a great change in the means of travelling with the introduction and production of electronic cars. This helped them in moving one step forward to wards becoming a modern nation. This change aided the citizens in moving from one place to another in a very short period of time and even increased the rate of communication between individuals. Such inventions changed the meaning of distance, places that used to seem too far away started seeming too near and people became less hesitant in travelling from travelling. Technological advancements were combined with electricity and produced fruitful results in ending the isolation of US; electricity is still the most important element of American lives as it helps them in communicating and travelling distances with the aid of cars, airplanes and buses. Technology has even aided US in gaining victory during the sessions of war. The most renowned advancement in technology that aided America in gaining timely intelligence during war time was the invention of airplanes. The creation of the airplanes during the era of 1942 led to the advanced and creation of spy places during the period of 1950s (Boyne, 2002, p.153). The advancement of technology including telegrams and televisions helped the US intelligence in conducting surveillance activities. Technology is considered the main reason behind the World War II and the success of the Americans during that period as during the time period, America developed the Atomic Bomb (Boyne, 2002, p.153). Technological advancements have remained a healthy means for America to counter terrorism and terrorist like activities. The creation of drones and robots have aided America in saving the lives of the US soldiers and helped the Americans in attacking enemy bases in the most secretive manner. The Robotic systems Joint Project Office reported that they have been able to save the important lives of 755 American soldiers through the use of technological advancements during the period of 2005 to 2011 (US Army). Another major advancement since the Civil War was the invention of computers and computer related technology which aided in ending American Isolation. The innovation of computers resulted in the innovation of the World Wide Web, even recognized as the internet during the period of 1946. During the age of 1970s, Americans witnessed the creation of personal computers; this new invention aided all the citizens of US to use information and to connect with other individuals not only within US but even outside US. This equipment is recognized as a virtual way through which the isolation and seclusion of America came to an end. With the introduction of computers and internet, means of entertainment even increased, people started creating games and simulations that allowed increased interaction of the Americans with the world. Today, in the 21st century, Americans no longer witness a gap between communications with other nations, every American now has the ability to communicate their ideas throughout the world, this advantage has been received by the Americans in the face of World Wide Web. Through the World Wide Web, Americans spread their information with the aid of online blogs, chat forums and electronically generated mails. This kind of technology was not available at the moment when America wanted to communicate during the 1900s, but the existence of this technology is leading to increase in the power of the Americans. During the early stages of the development of the Internet, this technology was only owned and controlled by the government of the US and its military forces, later this technology was made public and it is today not controlled by anybody. In prior years Americans had to spend heavy amount of money to socialize with others, but internet has made it possible for Americans to socialize with any other individuals within the world as this innovation have led to creation of virtual communities such as the Facebook, Twitter and MySpace. According to a survey, during the age of 2011, more than five hundred million individuals used Facebook, this means that one American individual can communicate his/her ideas and conduct business with over 500 million individuals under one roof without wasting time or money. In several ways, the means through which intellectual isolation has ended in US has even led to the threat of personal isolation. People within US use various technologies to purchase and sell goods and services; they meet up with their friends and family members through the internet and socialize through social bookmarking websites. This has restricted American families to their households and due to this they no longer meet with other physically nor do they get the opportunity of socializing with others through physical means. Due to this technology is causing new ways of isolating individuals from each other. Dependency on technology is not only leading to a new form of isolation, it is even impacting the health of the American citizens in a negative manner. Hours and hours of computer usage is leading to health diseases among American citizens. Technological advancements and growth of America and its population continued hand in hand since 1856, the desire of American citizens to obtain information and t satisfy its economic and social needs gave raise to changes in technology and continues to aid American citizens throughout their daily activities. Conclusion Technological advancements have aided in decreasing the emotional and the physical isolation of America and have satisfied the societal and economical needs of the citizens of US. The physical seclusion of the Americans came to an end with the introduction of methods of transportations such as airplanes, buses, railways, and subways, similarly, America’s intellectual isolation experienced a stop due to changes in technology and introduction of internet and electricity. The rural population of America even enjoyed the fruits of technology, the rural population connected with the urban population and benefited from trading within US and outside US. Technology has undoubtedly been the main element that united the individuals living in the rural and the urban centers of America and technology ended isolation of America and aided America in joining hands with the international centers. References Bowles, M. (2011). American History 1865–Present | End of Isolation. San Diego: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Boyne, W. J. (2002). Air warfare: an international encyclopedia. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO. In Trent, W. P., In Erskine, J., In Sherman, S. P., & In Van, D. C. (1917). The Cambridge history of American literature. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons; [etc., etc. Keenan, J. (2001). Encyclopedia of the Spanish-American & Philippine-American wars. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO. McClellan, J. E., & Dorn, H. (1999). Science and technology in world history: An introduction. Baltimore, Md: The Johns Hopkins University Press. Time: The year in review 2009. (2009). New York: Time Books. U.S. Army. (n.d.) Project Management Robotic Systems Joint Project Office.Retrieved from http://www.rsjpo.army.mil/ Read More