Industrialization of the United States
The history of the United States of America had always been one of progress. Though the socio-political realm of the history of the nation is partially enshrouded by black veil of struggles, conflicts, and eventual changes, the economic sphere of the American history still conveys about the significant progresses the country has been making since the inception of the process of industrialization. It is noteworthy that industrialization in the United States of America opened new arenas for economic opportunity even though it was ingrained with several sociological drawbacks that included the encroachment of capitalist exploitations and resulting militant labor unionism. …show more content…
It must be noted that after the Civil War a dramatic change occurred in the realm of American industry. Machines started replacing the conventional hand labor which was once considered the primary means of manufacturing, and this mechanization gradually started increasing production capacity of the American industries in a tremendous manner (‘History of the United States: Industrialization and reform (1870-1916)’ n.d.). Moreover, the development of railways did fuel the process of industrialization greatly as distribution of goods to different corners of the nation far and wide became possible (“History of the United States: Industrialization and reform (1870-1916)”, n.d.). Also, it must be noted that “Inventors developed new products that the public wanted, and businesses produced the products in large quantities. Investors and bankers supplied the huge amounts of money that business leaders needed to expand their operations” (‘History of …show more content…
It is noteworthy that in the course of American industrialization (between 1870 and 1920) “approximately 26.5 million immigrants from Asia, Latin America, and Europe entered all regions of the United States, with the majority settling in the Northeast and Midwest” (‘Industrializing America: Theme 2’ n.d.). Some of these migrants came to the United States to avoid political and religious persecution while some others reached the land forsaking their motherland for the sake of economic opportunity and financial prosperity (‘Industrializing America: Theme 2’ n.d.). In this relation it must be noted that, the more the immigrants gathered in the United States the more the nation’s workforce was strengthened and this strengthening also contributed significantly to the process of industrialization of the United States. And this is evident in the fact that “Using transcontinental railroads ad river boats, immigrants fanned out across the country to look for jobs: the Japanese in California’s fruit orchards, Mexicans in Colorado’s mines and beet fields, Scandinavians in western mines, Italians in iron mining camps in Missouri, and the Irish in New York factories” (“Industrializing America: Theme 2”,