Industrialization After the Civil War Thesis and Outline
‘Instructor’s Name’
‘Subject’
Thesis- The rapid industrialization that followed the American civil war had a mixed impact on the society economically, politically, and socially. Though industrialization increased production and created jobs, it widened the gap between the rich and poor, abetted government corruption and initiated environmental pollution.
South
The post-war industrialization had a huge impact on the predominantly agrarian economy of the South. Before the war, the South had an aristocratic political culture and a slave-based economy. The ‘new South’, a term used to indicate the South after the civil war, saw a change in both the fronts, with political culture becoming more inclusive, and the economy shifting to more of a tenant farming based economy. With the recently emancipated slaves forming the source of cheap labor and with the abundance of raw materials, South soon became a major industrial force. The change in the political landscape was marked by the emergence of progressive leaders such as Charles Aycock of North Carolina and Huey Long of Louisiana.
Race
As the agricultural economy gave way to industrialization, paternalism made way to rigid competitive system. Though both white and non-white workers worked together more frequently after the civil war, there was a difference in wages with whites being paid higher than the non-whites. This system was called the ‘dual wages system’. There was segregation between the two groups, and the competition between the two groups for work gave way to conflicts and violence.
Immigrants
Post-war industrialization changed the country from being a land of farms and small towns, to an urbanized country with immense job opportunities. The country witnessed significant expansion of railroads, and with it increased the demand for cheap labor. America was always a land of immigrants, but before they were mostly from Northern and Western Europe. The late 1800s saw immigrants from East Europe and Asia. Among them, the Chinese immigrants posed a tough competition to the local workers in the job market. This led to racial tension and distrust, culminating in anti-Chinese riots, forcing the government to enact the Chinese Exclusion Act, in 1882.
Child Labor
The industrialization process created wealthy entrepreneurs and offered the middle class a comfortable life. But this economic progress did not transform into social benefits for all the factions. Many people migrated from rural parts to cities in search of a better life, but many were disappointed because of the appalling working conditions that were provided in many industries. Particularly, child labor was an undesired byproduct of the industrialization process. Young children had to endure a loss of childhood by working for 10-14 hours in harshest conditions. They worked in places where machinery could inflict serious injuries, and places filled with toxins and fumes.
Gender
This period also witnessed an influx of women in the labor force. Women mostly were employed in jobs, which are often associated with domestic tasks such as the garment industry and processed foods industry. The invention of sewing machine gave women economic freedom, and suddenly they occupied the hitherto denied role of earning member of the family. Though during that era women were relegated mainly to their domestic sphere, more and more women started working in factories lured by high wages and a moral environment. Women were the first to receive short working hours by law, and men received these perks only later.
Industrialization and average working American
Industrialization affected different groups of working class Americans differently. Women who were usually less educated than men, as fewer family resources were allocated to them, found themselves in the overcrowded jobs such as seamstress, teachers, and maids. So their jobs were, generally, less paying and monotonous. The newly freed slaves were the other group who found themselves on the bottom of the economic and social ladder. They were not just handed the low-paying and menial jobs, they were also the target of the shoddily manufactured goods, such as the Lynn’s shoes and clothes made especially for the ‘southern market’.
Even among the White men inequities were in abundance during industrialization, with the elite occupying all the politically important offices. Though landownership was widespread, the lands of the wealthy and that of the poor had some stark differences. The poor people of the country were increasingly confronted by the differences in the wealth distribution, and the working conditions were in many cases poor and had serious effects on the health of the workers.
Works Cited
Cacciatore, C. (2007). The Industrial Revolution in America - Overview/Comparison. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO.
Goloboy, J. L. (2008). Industrial Revolution: People and Perspectives. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO.
Hoffarth, G. (2014). Industrialization and Dominant-Minority Relations. Retrieved from Blackhawk Technical College: http://instruction.blackhawk.edu/ghoffarth/race/reunit5.htm
Library of Congress. (2014). Childhood Lost: Child Labor During the Industrial Revolution. Retrieved from Eastern Illinois University : http://www.eiu.edu/eiutps/childhood.php
The Library of Congress. (2014). Chinese Immigration to the United States. Retrieved from The Library of Congress: http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/presentations/timeline/riseind/chinimms/
