Industry in The United States - Essay Example

Industry and the United s Introduction Industrial revolution marked the turning point in the American society since it brought a great chance to a society that had heavily depended on agricultural lifestyle. The advances and change in technology transformed the way Americans lived socially, economically and politically. The person who initiated the American industrial revolution was Samuel Slater when he opened the industrial mill, an idea he borrowed from Great Britain and brought to America. This facilitated the process of spinning yarn by hand with a loom hence marking the beginning of industrialization in America. The hand made products were then replaced by the factory products thus making them more accessible and more affordable to the Americans. The process of industrial revolution started in Great Britain when machinery was invented to replace human labor while fossil fuel to replace wind, water and wood (Alam 23). The full impact industrialization was fully felt when the use of machine spread to other corners of the globe in around 1800AD. This led to comprehensive rises in production capacity that affected all the basic human needs from food production, housing and clothing among others. Industrial revolution opened the American economy to merge with the world economy thus initiating the exchange of goods and services between them and different countries. These also paved ways for the establishment of economies, which promoted their businesses and made them to expand and conquer the global economy. The ability of the Americans to dominate the seas allowed their merchants to displace other from the world trade system thus benefiting them greatly. The creation of the world economy was a result of industrialization that greatly benefited the Americans as they get ready market for their goods, most of which were of superior quality (Vitiello 21). Industrialized Lives Industrialization prompted a movement for rural life to urban life resulting to urbanization in the American states. Others who could not sustain the lavish urban life remained in slums resulting in the development of social classes and segregation of individuals. The introduction of new technology in areas of agriculture resulted in improvements in production of foods and increased trade. The tools produced from industries provided the platform for the Americans to increase their production techniques in their farming fields. The average women in America also took advantage of the opportunities presented by industrialization in America to advance socially, economically and politically (Cancian, Goodman & Smith, 14). They left the traditional women chores of cooking meals, and taking care of other household duties to engage in business and to work in the industries. The demands of workers for the factories initiated women's empowerment programs to enable them work in these factories in the same capacity as men. Women got a glimpse of the life at work, compared it with the traditional household duties, and resulted to a new dimension in family relationships. The industries also took advantage of the situation and reduce the wages since women worked for lower wages than men. This initiated the idea that women are of same competency as men and they begin to advocate for equal opportunity with men in workplaces. Industrialization led to segregation of people into different age groups especially through the blacks and the whites. The blacks who are the minority were often looked down upon at the expense of the whites with respect to the opportunities that were availed by industries. Areas dominated by the white population got attention form the government than those dominated by other races. The Native American thus greatly benefited from government incentives at the expense of the black population (Wythe 11). Industry and Population Growth The entrance of industries saw a sharp increase in population growth in the United States. The population in the United States by the end of 2011 stood at 312, 000,000, almost ten times compared to their population in the beginning of the 19th Century (Greenberg, 31). This is largely because the birth of industries altered medicine and living standards of people when the death rate and the infant mortality rate was greatly reduced. Most health facilities and modern health programs were developed due to industrialization in the United States. The pharmacist could develop and produced advanced drugs, which enhanced the cure of diseases that posed a great threat to humans. With these developments, the United States population is expected to increase since development of industries has reduced the levels of infant mortality rate and deaths from contagious and other related diseases (Alam 23). Increase in population is greatly tied to increased use of natural and manmade resources, energy, land for growing food and pollution management as witnessed in the United States; New York City is highly populated due to industrialization. The development of industries also propelled the American population into an era of living and production at the expense of human conditions leading to low life standards (Alam 19). The natural resources in the United States have been greatly depleted to serve the interest of ever-growing population. The increase in population also results in increased demand than the natural resources can sustain hence posing a more dangerous situation for the Americans. Infrastructure In order to sustain the quick development in the United State, the government had to develop a proper and modern infrastructure (Wythe 24). Proper communication networks are evident in terms of rail and road thus connecting industries with the suppliers and producers in the market. The American citizens are also enjoying the benefits of improved infrastructure in their daily lives as they travel in different places to perform their task. For instance, Washington D.C has got a good infrastructure courtesy of industrialization. For a sustained growth and development of industries, facilities such as roads, rails network, communication, banking and insurance in all places thus making America a first world country (Cancian, Goodman & Smith 21). The American citizens have greatly benefited from these infrastructure facilities leading to improved living conditions. The development of, modern schools and health facilities in the United States also promoted improved knowledge and increased living standards of the people. Urbanization and Industrialization Most of the American states and cities developed because of massive industrialization that took place in that area. The scope of American industrialization and urbanization are parallel to the extent in which they are confused by most academics (Grienberg 33). Urbanization only occurs in the presence of advanced technologies and this is what enabled most of the American states. Amongst the developed cities in the United States include New York, Chicago, Mississippi, among others. Most of the American cities existed before but in low developed state and they began to develop massively at the commencement of industrialization. On the other hand, industrialization rarely takes place without urbanization (Vitiello 21). This is because urbanization offers a ready market for industrialized products thus sustaining the industries. Urbanization has also led to the cultural mix as new people from various places come to stay and interact in their urban setting. Industrial Growth on Environment Industrialization marked the main defining moment on the earth’s ecology and humans’ association with the environment since it changed every aspect of human life and lifestyles. The impact of industrialization is felt from human development, health, lifestyle, and social improvements (Grienberg 26). The impact of industrialization also reaches aspects of natural resources, public health, energy usage, and sanitation, among other effects, which have direct impacts on human lives. The emissions generated by the industries in their daily production process are endangering the lives of various people in the United States (Vitiello 23). The emissions of greenhouse gases for the industries are facilitating global warming leading environmental degradation. Other negative effects of industrialization have also resulted in climatic disasters, water shortages, water contamination and other environmental problems that pose a threat to well-being of the American people. The main damage of industries comes from industrial pollution on the ecological balance and the atmosphere thus reducing the good quality of the environment. Global warming is the most serious of the environmental effect and America being industrialized country, is one of the biggest contributors of greenhouse gases (Alam 11). American continent has a long coastline and is thus likely to suffer from increasing water levels that result from global warming and the melting of ice at the poles. The American’s are also exposed to the danger of acid rain due to dangerous emission from the industries to the atmosphere leading to skin diseases. The toxic wastes from the industries are potential hazards to the environment due to contamination of water bodies thus disturbing the ecosystems. Disturbed ecosystems lead to the death of aquatic plants and animals that human beings depend on directly or indirectly for their survival. Other negative environmental effects American’s are exposed to include damage to buildings due to excessive noise and other related diseases like asbestos, pneumoconiosis, among other diseases. Conclusion Industrialization changed brought changes in America economically, politically, and socially. Industrialization has both negative and positive effects depending on the nature of industrialization taking place. The effects of industrialization in the United States are just the same to those happening in other parts of the world. Work Cited Alam, Shahid. Colonization and Industrialization. A critique of Lewis. Review of Radical Political Economics, Spring 2004; vol. 36, 2: pp. 217-240. Cancian, Francesca., Goodman, Louis, and Smith, Peter. Capitalism, Industrialization, and Kinship in Latin America: Major Issues. Journal of Family History, December 1978; vol. 3, 4: pp. 319-336. Grienberg, Nicholas. Where Is Latin America Going? FTAA or “Twenty-first-Century Socialism”? Journal Citation Reports. 2010 vol. 37 no. 1 185-202. Vitiello, Domenic. De/Industrialization and Sub/Urbanization: New Perspectives on Industrial Place-Making in North America. Journal of Planning History, August 2005; vol. 4, 3: pp. 254-267. Wythe, George. Progress in Industrialization of Latin America. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, January 1948; vol. 255, 1: pp.48-57. Read More