The period 1760 to 1850 marked a significant change which would come to shape the historical landscape of the world. It was a period where rapid change started to take place in areas such as agriculture, textile, and manufacture. This was called the industrial revolution. The birthplace of the revolution was Great Britain but soon took roots in countries such as Germany, Japan, France and the United States. These changes foresaw a transition from predominantly agrarian societies to industrialized and mechanized ones. It was made possible by great industrialists and inventors who forged new paths that have come to benefit the world today. These were changes that impacted every facet of daily life.
There are many reasons for the impetus of the Industrial Revolution in America. Most notable causes include; the 1807 Embargo act and the war of 1812. In 1807, Thomas Jefferson passed an act which essentially seized the export of American goods and the import of goods from other nations. This embargo had a twofold effect; it strained commerce but propelled industry in America. This encouraged investors to open factories to produce goods that were no longer readily available in the country. The war of 1812 showed the American government areas in which they were lacking. That is, the need for improved transportation systems and the importance of achieving economic independence from Europe.
Samuel Slater is remarked as the man who started the industrial revolution when he made a copy of a British model machine that decreased the amount of time cotton thread could be spun into yarn.(Economic Growth and the Early Industrial Revolution) This new advancement led to the founding of the first cotton mill in Beverly Massachusetts. This saw a remarkable change in increased output as the textile industry began to move away from a cottage style industry to that of a factory meanwhile, opening the floodgates for mechanized textile production. Throughout the revolution, many other machines were invented which improved the textile industry. Inventors such as Thomas Bell and Eli Whitley in 1785 and 1793 respectively gave birth to inventions which increased the availability of cotton as well as made it possible to produce more for less. (Hacket, 1992)
The opening of factories and increased production meant that goods needed to be transported hence, the need for a reliable transportation system. In 1869, the first transcontinental railroad was completed. This enabled the movement of raw materials, products, and people. Businessman Andrew Carnegie seized the opportunity to tap into the revolution and would later dominate the steel industry. This industry helped to power the development of many railways. By the 1870’s, the period called the second revolution, saw improved railroads that were more comfortable and faster. Improvements were made on roadways as well, this provided better travel and toll roads helped to garner funds to expand transportation. Canals were built that connected cities. The most notable canal was the Erie Canal which connected New York City to the Western interior of the country.
New farming equipment and methods had a drastic impact on the agricultural sector. New ships equipped with refrigerators made it possible to deliver produce meat and dairy over long distances. However, as the agricultural sector became more mechanized more crops were being produced which lead to a glut on the market and inevitably earnings plummeted. This lead to the agricultural depression of the 1870’s and 1880’s (American Industrial Revolution). Although the farming industry was improving it also posed a threat to the livelihood of farmers. With this new development, more farmers sought to seek an alternative to agrarian life. They began to flock already overcrowded cities in search of better wages, better living conditions and new “luxuries” such as electricity and the telephone. However, they faced a new reality upon arrival.
A number of positive changes were brought about as a result of the Industrial Revolution. For example, modern buildings were constructed, new modern inventions made work easier and upgraded the standard of living, communication and transportation were vastly improved, and a new class structure emerged as labor unions eventually negotiated better wages for low income workers. In addition, the United States was able to compete on the world stage in areas such as manufacturing. This positive influence can be seen today in the mass production of goods which makes items cheaper for consumers. The Industrial Revolution helped to set the stage of technology which were improved on and used today. New movements and ideas emerged at this time as well, Ideologies such as Capitalism and Socialism. These ideologies sought to explain the plight of the ‘have- not’s and the motives or rights of the government.
Despite the positive changes brought about by the industrial revolution, there was also a backlash. This was experienced most by the lower and working class population within the society. Factories that were now more mechanized were also very dangerous and unhealthy. It was easy for workers to contaminate each other. Sick employees would easily become unemployed. Workers were forced to work long hours with little pay. These poor working conditions eventually lead to labor protests. The Industrial Revolution led to rapid urbanization, which resulted in the development of slums. This meant that adequate city planning was not done. Hence, there was no sewage system, running water or sanitation system. These slums provided the perfect conditions for diseases to thrive, for example, cholera. Child labor was the norm during this period of time as they were thought to be easier to handle. These children were expected to work as hard as an adult and rarely received an education. Gender discrimination was rife as women worked the same hours as men but were paid drastically less. To further complicate matters, crime and violence were on the rise in cities and the Police forces were ill-equipped to deal with it.
It can be concluded that the American Industrial Revolution was a period of time that was marked by many drastic changes. These changes, both positive and negative have come to impact the lives of the American people in areas such as manufacturing, textile, agricultural practices to name a few today.
Works cited
“American Industrial Revolution." Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. History: War. Detroit: Gale, 2009. Student Resources in Context. Web. 25 May 2016.
“Economic Growth and the Early Industrial Revolution.” U.S. History Online Textbook, 2016. Web. 24 May 2016.
Hacket, Lewis. “Industrialization: The First Phase” History-World.org ,1992. Web. 25 May 2016.
