Comparing 19th Century North America and Europe
In the 19th century, both North America and Europe underwent a lot of changes. To begin with, economically America experienced the Industrial Revolution. Americans were less in their homes and on the farms and moved to the cities where the men worked in offices and factories. Steel manufacturing became the dominant industry with an abundance of iron ore deposits and rich coal. There was easy access to cheap water transportation routes which aided in speeding the nation’s economy (“Iron and Steel Industry”). Men became the breadwinners and women were more domesticated and did not earn wages. Men enjoyed a great age of organization with fraternal groups about literacy and scientific societies, labor reform, Bible studies and sports groups. They went to taverns and barrooms to make political deals, secure jobs and for entertainment. The higher social status women planned social dinners. Those families who remained on the farms included everyone working and there were no schools (Family Life”).
In Europe, they too experienced the rise of industrialization, but along with it came liberal capitalism which completely upset the balance of power in the European society (“Religious Practice”). Similarly, the old way of life with people living in the countryside had them moving to the cities with the improvements in transport and communications technology. Commerce was no longer a dominant hierarchical model. Later on in the century, Napoleon III came into rule with the rise in Nationalism. He stated that the government should not intervene to promote growth and public welfare (“Religious Practice”). Yet in America, the Declaration of Independence was written with the political ideal of “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness (The Civil War”).”
In America during this time the Civil war broke out with brothers fighting against brothers and friends fighting against friends. Abraham Lincoln, President, was quoted as saying, “A house divided cannot
In Europe, they too experienced the rise of industrialization, but along with it came liberal capitalism which completely upset the balance of power in the European society (“Religious Practice”). Similarly, the old way of life with people living in the countryside had them moving to the cities with the improvements in transport and communications technology. Commerce was no longer a dominant hierarchical model. Later on in the century, Napoleon III came into rule with the rise in Nationalism. He stated that the government should not intervene to promote growth and public welfare (“Religious Practice”). Yet in America, the Declaration of Independence was written with the political ideal of “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness (The Civil War”).”
In America during this time the Civil war broke out with brothers fighting against brothers and friends fighting against friends. Abraham Lincoln, President, was quoted as saying, “A house divided cannot
Cited: Entertainment and Immigration. (12 Feb 2011) Retrieved from: http://immigration-online.org/98-entertainment-and-immigration.html Family Life, 19th Century Families. (n.d.) Retrieved from: http://countriesquest.com/north_america/usa/people/family_life/19th-century_families.htm Iron and Steel Industry. (n.d.) Retrieved from: http://www.history.com/topics/iron-and-steel-industry Religious Practice and Change in 19th Century Catholic Europe. (4 Feb 2005). Retrieved from: http://onepearsallandhisbooks.blogspot.com/2005/02/religious-practice-and-change-in-19th.html The Civil War. (n.d.) Retrieved from: http://www.shmoop.com/civil-war/ The Family and Class Structure in mid-19th Century Europe. (n.d.) Retrieved from: http://www2.sunysuffolk.edu/westn/familyclass.html Wacker, Grant. (2000). Religion in Nineteenth Century America. Retrieved from: http://www.rsiss.net/religinamerica/19centuryamerica.html Women and the Revolution. (n.d.) Retrieved from: http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/chap5d.html