assignment

The US after the civil war

Name

Institution affiliation

Course

Date

Thesis

Industrialization after the civil war transformed the US society by fostering rural-urban migration and creating a big gap between the rich and the poor whereas the economy expanded rapidly with a shift from small-scale businesses to mass production which saw political the democratic and republican parties grow politically strong with massive corruption being cited in this period of time.

3 major aspects of industrialization between 1865-1920 (society, economy, politics)

Before industrialization most rural communities were self-sufficient as they grew and provided services that were crucial within their areas. Small factories would be located near rivers where small-scale production would occur. There were many constraints in transport and communication. Industrialization changed this with mass production that saw an increase in the amount and variety of manufactured consumer goods. However, the wealth was concentrated in the hands of few in the society which was a violation of the American principle of equality in the society. There was a big gap between the owners of means of production, the farmers and the working class (Zunz, 1982). The economy expanded as mass production meant that enough would be produced to cater to the increasing market in capital cities which had seen an increase in population as people sought to work in the factories. The excess would be exported which saw the US experience economic growth. Politically there was an increase in government employment as there was need to manage the rising population in cities. The political class fully supported the business class which could be the cause of the massive corruption that the government of the day suffered. The two main political parties in the US; the Republicans and the Democrats also gained strength in this era.

5 specific groups that were affected by industrialization-give 2 examples for each group describing how the group was affected (race, ethnicity, gender, child labor)

The working class was affected in this era as they had to work for long hours and get low wages. A worker was considered lucky if they even accessed fringe benefits from their employers. Most working-class families lived from hand to mouth. They comprised the category that lived in poverty. Most of those living in towns lived in overcrowded slums where crime, poor diets, diseases, and little or no education characterized their lives.

Women were also affected as most had to work to supplement the income of the males in their families. Societal view that they were inferior to men made it worse as they would be expected to perform the same duties as men but would be paid lesser wages. Women still had to perform their household duties despite being overworked. They were treated like second-class citizens in this era.

Children also worked in factories and industries to help their parents make ends meet. Working denied children the freedom they need to go to school, play and lead an age appropriate life. They were paid the lowest despite having to work for long hours and in dangerous environments.

The rich were affected in that they exploited the businesses expansion and starting opportunities industrialization presented. It saw a rise in the number of millionaires in the society. Middle class also grew as they started to become managers, office workers and some established small businesses (Romer, 1996).

Immigrants increased in the US in this era as it was believed to be the land of opportunities. They wanted to work in the industries which saw an oversupply of labor. As business owners wanted minimum costs and maximum profits they allowed the labor market to be regulated the forces of supply and demand so they justified paying low wages. This only contributed to higher poverty levels (Ferrie, 2005).

Live 5 ways that industrialization affected the life of the average working American during this period

Skilled work became less utilized in the industrialization period as workers were replaced by machines that were more efficiently in production. This means a skilled worker attracted lower wages if they could find work than what they attracted before industrialization. Semi-skilled and unskilled workers gained more popularity which can also be attributed to their huge numbers.

Oversupply of labor due to migration saw wages reduces significantly thus the working class earned little despite statistics that show that the living costs increased during this period.

They worked for long hours and more so in unsafe working conditions as little safety measures were put in place which eventually affected their health.

Industrialization was a new event meaning there were no government safety nets such as social security. There were many uncertainties in employment which triggered the actions of reformers and activists who wanted these conditions to change.

References

Ferrie, P. Joseph. (2005). The End of American Exceptionalism? Mobility in the United States since 1850. The Journal of Economic Perspectives , 199-215.

Romer, M. Paul. (1996). Why, Indeed, in America? Theory, History and the Origins of Modern Economic Growth. American Economic Review , 202-206.

Zunz, Oliver. (1982). The Changing Face of Inequality: Urbanization, Industrial Development, and Immigrants in Detroit, 1880–1920. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.