Industrialization After the Civil War Final Paper

Assignment 1.2: 

Due Week 5 and worth 120 points

After the Civil War, the United States became a much more industrialized society. Between 1865 and 1920, industrialization improved American life in many ways. However, industrialization also created problems for American society. Consider events that took place after the Civil War and discuss ways that industrialization affected the U.S. between 1865 and 1920.

You have already developed a thesis statement and developed an outline in which you identify three main points relevant to your topic. Now you will develop the final paper in which you explore your main points in detail.

Prompt: Discuss three (3) major aspects of industrialization between 1865 and 1920. Identify three (3) specific groups that were affected by industrialization and provide two examples for each group describing how the group was affected.

Key Themes:

• United States industrialization improving and creating problems for American society
• Society, the economy, and politics
• Issues such as race, ethnicity, gender, and child labor
• How industrialization affected the life of the average working American during this period
• Events that took place after the Civil War

Write a three to five (3-5) page paper in which you:

1. Introduce your paper with your previously crafted thesis statement.
2. Discuss three (3) major aspects of industrialization between 1865 and 1920.  In your response, consider society, the economy, and politics.
3. Identify three (3) specific groups that were affected by industrialization and provide two examples for each group describing how the group was affected. (Consider issues such as race, ethnicity, gender, child labor, etc.)
4. Summarize how industrialization affected the life of the average working American during this period. Use specific examples and details.
5. Use at least three (3) academic references besides or in addition to the textbook. Note: Wikipedia and other Websites do not qualify as academic resources.

Running Head: INDUSTRIALIZATION AFTER CIVIL WAR THESIS AND OUTLINE 1

INDUSTRIALIZATION AFTER CIVIL WAR THESIS AND OUTLINE 6

Industrialization after the Civil War Thesis and Outline

Name

Name of Institution

Impact of Industrialization on the U. S between 1865 and 1920 after civil war

Part 1

Thesis Statement

Industrialization after the Civil War marked the major turning point in the history of human kind in terms of economy, social structure and politics. After civil war, industrialization took unpredictable turn affecting every aspect of their daily life in many ways thus improving the general Americans lives economically and politically. However, industrial revolution brought it numerous problems that adversely affected the American society.

Part 2

List three (3) major aspects of industrialization between 1865 and 1920.  

The three major aspects of the American society that were affected by industrialization are: Urbanization, entrepreneurship and technological innovations.

Urbanization: After the civil war, the American society was swept with the rapid increase in the population and growth in urban centers. The implementation of capitalism in the American society changed its political and economic pillars and lifted America to high heights in the world. The demographic evolution emerged due to rapid immigration and displacements of the Europeans from the rural to the urban areas. Large tracks of land were converted into plantations and produced large volumes of raw materials for the rapidly emerging industries. The industries became major pillar of the American economy. The urban areas were to be developed with modern facilities and infrastructure in order to provide conducive living and working environment for the growing population (Hanlon, 2017).

Entrepreneurship: as the American society surged with industries, the social, political and technological changes were experienced. Competition in industrial production increased, thus strengthening the monopoly of few dominant industries. The result was reduction in the price of commodities, increased production volumes and prices deflation. As a result, the consumers gained purchasing power for the first time thus birthing entrepreneurship. This gave way for the development of new inputs. The development of wide range of products doubled the per capita products. The GDP grew seven times and the economy sprung up and expanded. The total factor productivity grew from 51 to 81.2 (King, 2015).

Technological innovation: The industrial events after the civil war, resulted into technological innovativeness and prominence. Technology was harnessed in industrial activities, manufacture of weapons and agricultural implements. This resulted to industrial mass production, warfare advancement due the production of more powerful and sophisticated weapons and quality products. Technology also revolutionized communication networks and transport of goods and services, increasing the speed of distribution of products and widening the market for the products. This increased the industrial profitability and efficiency. Industrialization also birthed production mechanization in agriculture and industries. Scientific production management resulted to standardization, continuous production and specialization. Mechanization helped eliminate prejudice against blacks and introduced industrial workforce culture and interaction. This also impacted on the political aspects as revolutions against human trafficking and prejudice against black emerged (King, 2015).

List five (5) specific groups that were affected by industrialization. Provide two (2) examples for each group describing how the group was affected. (Consider issues such as race, ethnicity, gender, child labor, etc.)

American industrialization did not bring better life for all the citizens. The blacks, Irish, Italians, Germans and Chinese among other never benefited from the impacts of industrialization in America after civil war. Africans and Asians become objects of prejudice and were considered inferior. The Italians were only allowed in unskilled jobs and were turned down from any trade unions just as blacks. The working conditions were harsh for them and no one could protect them. The Irish people and Italians were subjected to harsh working conditions with little wages as they were considered scapegoats for America’s financial difficulties. Women suffered rape and long working hours with their children in on their backs. Children were employed in farms and suffered child labor abuses. They worked for long hours in poor health conditions. Farmers also suffered low pay for their products and were paid at the mercy of the white traders (Fukuyama, 2014).

List five (5) ways that industrialization affected the life of the average working American during this period.

Industrial revolution times affected the American people in various ways.

i. Underpayment: The increased wealth did not translate to the pockets of the industrial stakeholders and raw material producers. Workers were paid peanuts thus could not transform their economic status.

ii. Displacement: Rural dwellers were displaced from their land so that the land could be used for plantations. They were therefore left homeless.

iii. Infrastructure: Transport and communication infrastructure were extended to the rural areas thus opening them up or more investment, development and agriculture. This also availed many basic commodities and services for the rural population

iv. Multicultural and Multi-lingual: Rapid rural and cross boarder immigration made America a multicultural and multilingual nation.

v. Employment: Industrial revolution opened jobs for many populations in various part of the country.

Conclusion

The post-civil war industrial revolution expanded the economy U.S. it also facilitated societal and political restructuring. It gave way for technology emergence and entrepreneurship. However, specific groups did not enjoy the benefits of industrialization, even though it improved the lives of the people.

References

Fukuyama, F. (2014). Political order and political decay: From the industrial revolution to the globalization of democracy. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Hanlon, W. W. (2017). Temporary shocks and persistent effects in urban economies: Evidence from British cities after the US Civil War. Review of Economics and Statistics, 99(1), 67-79.

King, P. B. (2015). Evolution of North America. Princeton University Press.