Industrialization After the Civil War Thesis and Outline - Research Paper Example

Sur Sur Sur Industrialization after the Civil War After the Civil War ended U.S.A. went into a period of industrialization. It had its advantages, however it also created problems. Some of them were sorted out, some others’ influence are still an unsolved problem. Anyway, it has made a great change in U.S. people’s lives. Although problems it has caused, industrialization, if taken in general, have given U.S.A. a huge economic and social impact, that outweighs all other issues. Industrialization influenced all facets of human life.

Firstly, the Bessemer’s process given an opportunity to make steel rails, which last ten times longer than iron rails (Fogel p. 201). There was also an impact in machine tools. On the other hand, due to the machine tools impact many people lost their jobs, because of the growing number of qualified engineers needed and the growing number of immigrants who were unqualified workers (U.S. Bureau of the Census, pp. 19-20). What is more, even though oil was already known to public, the first modern oil well was set up in 1859 by Edwin Drake (Vassiliou, p. 13). Invention of the steam engine made transitions by water easier and cheaper.

There were many other great changes in industry and technology during mentioned period. However, many laborers in that time were displaced by machines and level of unemployment grown highly (Wells, p. 189). What is more, working on factory was dirty, dangerous and exhausting. Many employees moved to cities and came to work on factories, thus urbanization level grown. Although, labor productivity grown owing to increasing number of , 2machines used. All these caused to increase the difference between rich and poor.

Organizing into trade unions became more popularNevertheless, medicine and health care level of population raised. Industrialization also increased level of human comfort and standards of living. For example, international telegraph system was built in 1890. Although Thomas Edison did not create the first electrical light bulb, it is his patent, which lead to lighting people’s houses in 1883 (Thomas Edison: Life of an Electrifying Man, p.15). From 1850 to 1900 it was a renovation period for evangelical Protestantism.

At the same time, it was also a period of Catholic Church growth.Started in 1870s African American lost some of their rights and been harassed. It has led to a politics of racial segregation. Woman were granted full righting votes in some states by the end of 19th century. Entrepreneurs started to use child labor because they are small and could get to smaller holes than adults could. Extended families became more common than nuclear ones.To make a balance, I would like to say that Industrialization occurred after the Civil War had a great influence on American industry, technology and society.

It had its pros and contras, however I consider that pros outweigh contras. , 3OutlineI. Major aspects of Industrialization that affected U.S. society, economics, politics etc.:a. Building a branched railroad system affected all spheres of human life, e.g. made good opportunities for entrepreneurship;b. Increasing number of machines used influenced economic and unemployment growth, however it raised living standards;c. Urbanization, which affected society and politics.II. Specific groups that were affected by Industrialization:a.

African American lost some of their rights and were harassed, system of racial segregation was developed;b. Woman were granted full voting rights, as well as property and child custody rights;c. Children were taken from their homes to work on factories, first child labor laws were adopted;d. Native Americans were reluctant to move because of the Indian Removal Act, however they had ruling position, because ethnocentric ideas were brought up;e. Entrepreneurs received numerous opportunities to start new business or develop the one they had.III. Ways that Industrialization affected life of the average working American:a.

Some workers lost their jobs due to a growing number of machines, unemployment level increased;b. Children became workers too;c. Health conditions of factories were extremely law;d. A need in qualified workers occurred;e. Workers started to organize into trade unions., 4Works CitedFogel, Robert W.  Railroads and American Economic Growth: Essays in Econometric History. Baltimore and London: The John Hopkins Press, 1964. Print.Thomas Edison: Life of an Electrifying Man. MN: Filiquarian Publishing, 2008. Print.U.S. Bureau of the Census.

 Historical Statistics of the United States. [Federal government], 1976. Print.Vassiliou, Marius. Historical Dictionary of the Petroleum Industry. MD: Scarecrow Press, 2009. Print.Wells, David A. Recent Economic Changes and Their Effect on Production and Distribution of Wealth and Well-Being of Society. NY: D. Appleton and Co, 1890. Print.