FREE ESSAY ON INDUSTRIALIZATION

INDUSTRIALIZATION

As George Donelson Moss, author of America in the twentieth century states it; modern
America emerged during the last thirty years of the nineteenth century. With most of the
century consisting of farmers and smaller towns and country-like living, the later parts
of the century brought industrialization and businesses. This changes forced Americans to
view and live life differently. Of the important elements that influenced America in the
nineteenth century, industrialization and immigration are the most significant. 
Industry flourished in the 1800's causing changes to America's every aspect of life.
Manufacturing also increased during this time due to the many advancements and new
inventions. Railroads, one of the most important advances of the 1800's, increased the
growth and size of manufacturing and industrialization. With railroads, wide spread
cities could connect to each other enabling companies to sell their products to other
consumers besides the local merchants. This expansion of goods allowed more rural areas
to flourish into larger, factory dwelling cities. Andrew Carnegie became known as the
steel master of America after inventors found a new way of mass-producing steel in the
U.S. during the 1860's. America became the number one steel manufacturer in the year of
1880. The petroleum industry grew in the 1860's also. Kerosene, used to bring light to
houses after nightfall, became its most important product. John D. Rockefeller, who
headed the Standard Oil Company, became the nation's first billionaire with his
involvement in this industry. Alexander Graham Bell's invention of the telephone in 1876
created another huge industry in the nineteenth century. From the 1880's until the end of
the century, Americans were using over 800,000 telephones. This aided in communication
across the U.S. Another famous inventor, Thomas Edison, also helped the industrialization
of the late 1800's by improving telephonic transmissions and the electric light bulb. He
built the first power station in 1882 that supplied customers the electric current for
lighting. 
With the industries and businesses flourishing, a big problem with urban development
arose. With new industries, workers and their families would flood the surrounding city
looking for jobs and places to live. This rapid expansion of people and cities caused
many unfavorable results. The workers were forced to live in cramped and crowded housing.
Problems arose with this lifestyle including the spreading of diseases, an increased
crime rate, psychological stress and juvenile delinquency. These slums also caused
problems such as decreased water supply, sewage, and the loss of police and fire
protection. The conditions of these urban cities gradually increased leading to paved
streets and adequate lighting after dark, decreasing the amount of crime. With the
transportation improvements, the cities started to segregate into social classes with the
immigrants staying in the poor areas and the middle classes moving away from the central
area. 
With the news of industrialization and economic growth in America in the later part of
the nineteenth century, immigrants from mostly Europe began to rush into the U.S. These
immigrants were made up of mostly low class peasants with little or no skills, training,
or education. These newcomers would crowd the urban cities living in close quarters with
other immigrants. The industries employed these people with jobs such as digging sewers,
installing utilities, and paving the streets. These people worked very hard for the
little wages that they received just to live in our country. These immigrants would more
than likely never overcome their social class but their children who were given the
opportunity to go to schools and obtain training often achieved middle-class status. Jane
Adams, who opened a settlement house in a slum in Chicago called the Hull House, was one
of the most helpful in helping the immigrants overcome their poverty. She provided
services such as medical care, counseling, schools, and employment referral to help these
people adapt to their new ways of living.