Industrialization and the Rise of Big Business 1870-1900 - Introduction

ASU HST 200 (Historical Themes) Industrialization and the Rise of Big Business, 1870-1900 Introduction "The Salt Lake City Herald captured the excitement and optimism of the machine age with this announcement about the official start of the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. "President Cleveland, by pressing a button, started the mighty machinery, rushing waters, and revolving wheels in the World's Columbian exhibition," ushering in the electric age in this last decade of the nineteenth century. The editorial went on, "In earlier expositions, the capabilities of electricity had been restricted to the mere starting of the machinery hall's engines, but in this it forced thousands of minions to perform its will. ....The four hundredth anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in America was marked by a fair that served as a powerful metaphor for both the new wave of industrialization that swept the nation and the plethora of inventions that transformed American life and significantly boosted economic growth during that time. "The magic of electricity did the duty of the hour," the fair declared. Businesspeople benefited greatly from these technical advancements, but the newly formed industrial working class faced many difficulties. Ironically, the country was plunging into the greatest depression of the century just as the World's Fair opened to the public. The nation's first big labor movement was sparked by the discontent of working-class Americans. This proclamation from the Salt Lake City Herald announcing the formal opening of the Chicago World's Fair in 1893 encapsulated the enthusiasm and hope of the machine age. "In the final decade of the nineteenth century, President Cleveland brought in the electric era at the World's Columbian Exhibition by pressing a button to start the powerful equipment, rushing waters, and turning wheels. The piece continued, "In earlier expositions, the capabilities of electricity had been restricted to the mere starting of the machinery hall's engines, but in this it forced thousands of minions to perform its will." A fair commemorating the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in America served as a potent metaphor for the country's recent industrialization as well as the abundance of inventions that revolutionized American life and greatly accelerated economic growth. The fair claimed, "The magic of electricity did the duty of the hour." These technological developments were very beneficial to businesspeople, but the newly developed industrial working class had numerous challenges. Paradoxically, the World's Fair opened to the public right when the nation was sliding into the worst depression of the century. The dissatisfaction of Americans in the working class ignited the country's first large-scale labor movement. The opulence of the Chicago World's Fair served as a symbol of the new age of development and invention that industrialization, which began in the late 19th century, brought forth. President Cleveland's iconic gesture of using a button press to start the fair's equipment embodied the transformational force of technology, especially electricity, which was vital in creating the modern world. At the Chicago World's Fair, electricity demonstrated its widespread effect by requiring hundreds of mechanisms to function in unison, in contrast to previous exhibitions when it was only used to start engines. Honoring the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's journey, the fair was evidence of America's rise to prominence in the industrial world. The exhibit's wonders brought to light the inventiveness of creators and businesspeople, whose innovations transformed everyday existence and spurred previously unheard-of rates of economic expansion. But for many Americans, the reality was very different even in the middle of the breathtaking demonstrations of growth. The working class faced several difficulties while industrialization brought benefits to corporate magnates. Though prosperity was promised, the period ended with the worst economic slump of the century, which sent the country into a profound depression. The difficulties industrial workers faced were made worse by the current economic climate, which sparked social upheaval and widespread dissatisfaction. The World's Fair's contrast of luxury and hardship brought the deep inequality of the time to light. Working-class Americans faced exploitation, dangerous working conditions, and low pay while industry thrived thanks to technical breakthroughs. The stark differences in opportunity and income fed a rising dissatisfaction among the working class, which led to the formation of the first significant labor movement in American history. The Chicago World's Fair functioned as a microcosm of the intricate dynamics reshaping American society at the turn of the century inside this volatile environment. It emphasized the pressing need for social and economic transformation while simultaneously exposing the harsh realities of industrialization and celebrating innovation and development. The lasting impact of the fair serves as a reminder of both the continuous fight for justice and equality against industrial capitalism and the revolutionary potential of technology.