How Does Industrialization Affect Families

The introduction of industrialization on America had an unprecedented impact on the average family culturally, numerically, and social economically. After the civil war, America began to industrialize heavily. During the civil war, the United States Government implemented the federalization of all the major railroad companies as well as all factories that produced war materials. This lead to a new and unprecedented efficiency in industrialization which eventually lead to the defeat of the confederacy. After the Civil war however these lessons were not forgotten. Not only did factory owners in the north become extremely wealthy by profiting off of wartime production, but they also realized the potential for mass production of products. Thanks to an influx of new
Due to the lack of regulation, child labor was numerous. Because families made the transition from rural farm life to urban industrial life, they suddenly lost the need to have as many children since traditionally lots of children meant lots of free labor for the farm. Now, more children meant higher living expenses and more mouths to feed. The average number of children dropped significantly from 6 children, to just 3.5. The traditional sense of marriage also changed due to industrialization. If you were not a poor immigrant family working in the factory, then you were most likely a single young man or woman looking for a job in the city. Because these young people were not under the influence of their parents, dating and casual sex became socially acceptable. This was not the only effect industrialization had on families however. For middle and upper class families, the standard of living actually increased. For one, because of the increase in manufactured goods, families no longer needed to produce everything they owned, and could afford to live in the suburbs or an apartment, instead of a self reliant