Historical Transformations that Marked the Birth of Modern America - Literature review Example

Historical Transformations that Marked the Birth of Modern America The period following the Civil War was characterized by rapid growth in American industry. Even though the United States experienced industrial revolution in early 1800s, farming was a major means of production prior to the Civil War. After the Civil War, millions of Americans abandoned farming to work in expanding factories and mines. The rapid growth of industries in the United States would then bring revolutionary changes to the country. Industrial revolution experienced after the Civil War was further exacerbated during WWI. Production of war supplies during WWI contributed to the growth of industries. The federal government took control and centralized industries in an effort to reorganize the economy (Corona 6). Industrial revolution was so critical to the economic growth of the United States in the sense that by the onset of 1900, the nation had transformed into an industrial leader on the global front (Corona 23). According to Corona, a number of factors were responsible for the rapid growth of industry in the United States. To begin with, the nation had massive natural resources which favored the expansion of industry without relying on expensive imports. Second, large American families and a surge in immigrants provided cheap labor for the industries. Thirdly, the concept of consumerism increased the consumption of industrial produce. Against such a backdrop, this essay will discuss how capitalism, consumerism and labor after the Civil War and during WWI influenced the birth of modern America (24-30). Capitalism and Business The free enterprise system has been identified as one of the major impetus behind rapid industrial growth in the United States. After the Civil War and during WWI, the United States largely embraced the laissez-faire system that gave industries and businesses the leeway to carry on with their activities without government interference. Proponents of free enterprise strongly believed that government interference in the economy would increase the cost of doing business and subsequently hurt economic growth. Accordingly, the US government fostered the principle of capitalism in the 1980s by lowering its spending and taxes. The government also failed to impose costly regulations on industrial and business operations. Furthermore, the US government did not regulate commodity prices nor control wages (Weinberg 158). Given the rapid growth of industry in the United States, many people were motivated to venture into business with the sole aim of maximizing profits. Entrepreneurs were particularly attracted in the late 1980s to venture into manufacturing and transport sectors due to their economic viability. Investments that had been generated by New Englanders from farming and trade were invested in the construction of railroads and factors. Foreign investors, particularly from Great Britain, took advantage of the growth and profit opportunities in the United States to invest private capital in industry and transport. Private capital invested by foreigners thus played a significant role in increasing the rate of industrial development in the United States after the Civil War (Corona 55). Massive profits generated from industrial and business operations would then form the basis for capitalism. Industrialists and business elites began reinvesting their earned profits in securities, bonds and property. However, capitalism resulted in the high concentration of wealth among few Americans. The principles of capitalism have not shifted in contemporary America after the Civil War (Corona 58). First, private ownership still remains the means of production in contemporary America. In modern America, productive capital is less represented by publicly-owned means of production. Land forms the largest publicly-owned capital but much of it is no longer productive (Weinberg 320). Second, private owners still accumulate profit due to the existence of social class structure of free wage earners and private owners. Government subsidies and slow privatization processes formed, and still for, the basis upon which state-owned property and assets are transferred to private companies and individuals. Third, production of commodities with the sole aim of selling continues to foster capitalism in modern America. Communities and individual families used to provide certain services and products, such as childcare (Weinberg 321). However, Weinberg notes that these services and products have increasingly become commodities that are offered by established industries. Commoditization of services and products has necessitated the urgency for contemporary Americans to seek wage-work (322). One of the major drawbacks of capitalism in modern America has been division of labor along gender and racial lines. In essence, division of labor is essential in facilitating capitalistic growth and development. The labor income of one family member no longer supports families in the United States, and this has assured the supply of labor. Currently, husband and wives in approximately one-half of American families work on a full-time basis. Nevertheless, venture capital and financial institutions form the new sources of capital to finance industrial and business development. Contributions made during election-campaigns have now become the channels through which economic power is translated into political power. All these factors combine to reinforce private ownership of property in the modern United States (Weinberg 325). Labor and Workers’ Unions The rapid growth of industries in America was supported by the disadvantages of labor. Low costs of production due to the availability of natural resources and labor translated into slow growth of wages and high productivity. Americans struggled with labor issues during the colonial era but their struggles intensified during the industrial revolution that followed the Civil War. Massive growth in immigrant workers and increase in the number of working class Americans necessitated the creation of labor unions to protect workers’ rights (Weinberg 323). However, labor unions favored skilled workers at the expense of unskilled workers who majorly immigrants. Skilled workers responded to the trend by joining labor unions; an action that increased the popularity of unionism in America (McNeese 60). During the 1800s, labor unions become more prevalent and the Knights of Labor became the main labor union in the United States. The Knights of Labor underwent radical growth and organized strikes to remonstrate the dismal and dangerous conditions suffered by workers. One of the remarkable strikes staged by the Knights of Labor was the demand for an eight-hour workday. The nation-wide strike for the eight-hour workday became blood following the involvement of the police who had been instructed by employers to scuttle the demonstrations. The labor workers were then blamed by members of the public and the media for behaving like anarchists. Members of the labor movement were even labeled as communists, radicals and socialists (McNeese 67-82). The Knights of Labor movement was then replaced by the Chicago Haymarket Square Riot of 1886. The Chicago Haymarket Square Riot become one of the most radical events fundamentally transformed Labor Movement in the United States. The Chicago Haymarket Square Riot has been responsible for shaping labor unionisms in America by virtue of creating the American Federation of Labor. The American Federation of Labor became the most powerful labor union in America and initiated the journey towards forging a new, modern era of labor unionism in America. Since then, the American Federation of Labor has played a crucial role in reforming labor unionism in the United States. The federation has also inspired passion for leadership and labor in modern America (McNeese 83-96). Consumerism and Middle-Class The thought behind consumerism is that a person’s happiness and well-being largely depends on the extent of personal consumption. Consumerism believes that purchase of material goods enhances individuals’ well-being. In addition to pegging wellbeing on living standards above a certain threshold, consumerism centers on the notion that happiness can be derived from material ownership and consumption. Consumerism creates a society that is founded on the tenets of massive and excessive consumption. People in the consumerist society exclusively devote their time, resources and effort on acquiring products for consumption. Proponents of consumerism hold the view that consumption is not only good but it is even better to consume much more (Cohen 6). The late nineteenth century marked the emergence of a national consumer culture in America. However, the origin of consumer society dates back centuries before it first emerged in America. The era succeeding the Civil War was characterized by unprecedented expansion of railroad and telegraph. Consequently, the movement of people and goods across America became cheaper and faster than ever before. For instance, it took three weeks to transport earthenware from New York to Chicago in 1830, while it took only three days in 1860. By 1880, transport of goods and people along the same route took less than a day. The transport revolution created by the invention of the telegraph and railroad transformed the economy in unprecedented scale (Cohen 30). The rapid growth of industry after the Civil War witnessed mass migration of people from rural farms to urban centers to look for profitable work. Production would then dramatically shift from agricultural products to industrial products. To that effect, consumerism accompanied the changed mode of production as more Americans had the capacity and desire to purchase goods. Americans who migrated to cities were forced to shift and embrace new consumption methods. For instance, fresh vegetables were no longer sourced from family plots but rather from grocery shops. Furthermore, shoes were available in an assortment of color, shape and sizes throughout the year and Americans no longer had to wait for peddlers to supply the desired sizes and colors (Cohen 31). In an effort to gain respect and recognition, most Americans increasingly shifted toward purchase of manufactured goods. Increasing demand for manufactured goods increased production and wealth in a successive cycle that fueled capitalism in America. Americans began wearing ready-made clothing instead of those tailored at home, sat on couches instead of stools, used cutlery to dine instead of wood platters, used lanterns instead of candles, and much more. By shifting from previous consumption patterns to new patterns that they perceived would modernize their live, Americans not only transformed their own lives but transformed the entire American economy in profound ways (Cohen 31-36). A shift in consumption patterns led to the massive expansion of the scope and scale of national distribution. The expansion of national distribution of goods was accompanied by two characteristics. First, advertisements replaced overreliance on retailers to assess the quality of goods. Second, department store, chain stores and mail-order stores emerged as new outlets for goods. Consequently, most Americans had access to higher living standards at the turn of the twentieth century. While American families still spent close to 70% of their incomes on basic needs, they had better choices than in previous decades. For instance, more families were able to consume beef and fresh milk than ever before. Goods that were once considered a reserve for high-income families found their way in rural and middle-class families (Cohen 54). The characteristics of consumerism that were experienced in pre-modern America have been replicated and reinforced in contemporary America. Just like in the post-Civil War era, Americans are today surrounded with advertisements, chain stores and departmental stores in every segment of the community. The advent of the computer and the internet in the twenty-first century has dramatically shifted access to and consumption of goods. Religion and spirituality were promoted in the preindustrial America as the basis attaining happiness and fulfillment. Conversely, postindustrial America promotes economic prosperity as the means to attain fulfillment through production and consumption of goods and services (Cohen 62-65). Conclusion The rapid growth of industry witnessed a dramatic shift from farming to industrial production. The industrial revolution was further enhanced by American’s role in the WW1, which was to manufacture war supplies. Industrialization in America was majorly supported by free trade system. Within the context of industrialization and free trade system, there emerged capitalism which favored private ownership of property. As more Americans became wealthy, their consumption patterns shifted hence reinforced the concept of consumerism. However, industrialization and capitalism created division of labor that necessitated the emergence of unionism in America. The three components of capitalism, consumerism and labor have immensely contributed to the rise of modern America. Works Cited McNeese, Tim. The Labor Movement: Unionizing America. New York: Infobase, 2008. Print. Weinberg, Meyer. A Short History of American Capitalism. Stroud: New History Press, 2003. Print. Cohen, Lizabeth. A Consumers Republic: The Politics of Mass Consumption in Postwar America. New York: Knopf Doubleday, 2008. Print. Corona, Brezina. The Industrial Revolution in America: A Primary Source History of Americas Transformation into an Industrial Society. New York: Rosen Publishing Group, 2005. Print. Read More