Essay - Effects of Industrialization

Effects of Industrialization DBQ As the Civil War came to an end in 1865, the nation began an era of Reconstruction to help rebuild America. During Reconstruction, many small white farmers, thrown into poverty by the war, entered into cotton production, a major change from pre-war days when they concentrated on growing food for their own families. The most difficult task confronting many Southerners during Reconstruction was devising a new system of labor to replace the shattered world of slavery. The nation was becoming more urbanized and shifted the focus of the economy from agriculture to businesses. Many large cities began to flourish and develop as the nation became industrialized. The railroad industry sparked industrialization as the railroad networks facilitated transportation nationwide. This industry, which involved government funding, was a major factor in driving economic growth and eventually led to the development of businesses. The rise of big businesses in the North encouraged massive migrations in which the immigrants sought employment. Major businesses were owned by “robber barons,” who took over the economic and political system. Industrialization and reconstruction ushered a new era, known as “The Gilded Age,” which was coined by Mark Twain. This term represented the idea that this era was supposedly rich and covered in gold on the outside, but once layers are peeled off, the harsh realities of life begin to appear. The transformation of the United States from an agricultural to an increasingly industrialized and urbanized society in the years 1865 to 1900 brought about significant economic, political, and social changes in the late nineteenth century. Large-scale production – accompanied by massive technological change, expanding communication networks, and pro-growth government policies – fueled the development of the Gilded Age, which emphasized consumption, marketing, and business consolidation. Government subsidies for transportation and communication systems opened new markets in America, while technological innovations and redesigned financial and management structures such as monopolies sought to maximize the use of natural resources and a growing labor force. The development of machines allowed for the mass production of goods. Prices declined due to the technological advancements and innovations; agricultural innovations led to the reduced food prices; mining improvements led to reduced fuel and lighting costs; and the mass production of goods reduced the cost of living (Doc. A). This unbiased historical statistics shows the American public how advancements of industrialization spurred economic growth, which decreased the prices of many products. As a result of the technological advancements and economic growth, large manufacturing businesses emerged, and were owned by political machines and robber barons, a new class of very wealthy businessmen and owners, which consisted of people like Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, and J.P. Morgan. These businessmen influenced the political system through their wealth (Doc. C). The cartoon in this document shows the oversized men, who are the owners of the industries, dressed in moneybags labeled “trusts,” which indicate monopolies. They are blocking the entrance to the Senate and more of the oversized men are lined up at the monopolists’ entrance. There is also a sign that states, “This is a Senate of the monopolies by the monopolists and for the monopolists.” This satirical cartoon explains that the government is controlled by big businesses, leading to political changes. Monopolists are wealthy and powerful, and the trusts’ power controls an abundant amount of industries, not just one. Because of their influence in government roles, the people have no control nor any voice in the government because there was no direct election of senators. This cartoon evidently speaks out against these trusts as the author depicts these men with atrocious characteristics, and shows their powerful influence of wealth and industry in the Senate. Although these men helped improve the economy, the public viewed them as corrupt and selfish. The robber barons held a high standing in society, and it was hard to argue against them. The people who owned small industries were “ruined” by these major companies (Doc. G). According to George Rice, he was a victim of Rockefeller’s abuse of power. Rice was the owner of Ohio Oil Works, which shut down as a result of Rockefeller’s combination. This combination shut down smaller businesses and put competitors out of business. Monopolies that “teamed up” with the railroads, such as the Standard Oil Company, were also shutting down businesses because of their lower prices. He is speaking out against monopolies by describing himself as a “victim” of Rockefeller’s combination. There is an increase in the gap between social classes; the wealthy are more powerful than the middle class and working class. The minorities of the wealthy class emerge with these large-scale corporations and became political machines. The working class and immigrants emerged to become the suffering employees of such companies. According to Andrew Carnegie’s “Gospel of Wealth,” the higher social classes were obligated to help the poor (Doc D). It was believed that the wealthy people should lead a humble, simple life, and by helping the poor, they will be doing so. The wealthy saw themselves as superior to the poor, and therefore viewed their judgment as valuable, not only to themselves, but to the rest of society as well. Because they possessed immense wealth, they were given such social obligations. Carnegie used his wealth towards the public. He was the founder of Carnegie libraries and Carnegie Steel Corporations. He used the surplus revenues as a trust fund for the community. He enforced that charity was key to fulfilling these responsibilities. However, to obtain a massive industry requires the use of a workforce. Many immigrants moved to the United States to seek employment. According to Doc. B, workers would no longer work independently, but as if they were part of a “military organization.” Modern factories employees were “taught to do one thing – to perform one and generally a simple operation; and when there is no more of that kind of work to do, they are in a measure helpless.” The result of such work is that individualism and independence “has been in a great degree destroyed,” and workers’ pride decreases due to the specialization of labor. These economic changes delayed the production of goods. Because there was a lack of individualism, there was an easy replacement of unskilled labor. Wells, who was an engineer and economist, shows the destructive well being of society. Although these innovations and advancements in society improved the economic standing, the industrialization of the United States also caused problems relating to the workers’ jobs. The treatment of workers and the conditions they had to work in became a social problem. In Doc. F, Samuel Gompers states “The organized working men and women…declare that men, women and children…should have a better consideration than inanimate and dormant things, usually known under the euphonious title of ‘Property.’” Workers were seen as property and realized that they were not being treated fairly. As a result, many reform movements and societies were created to meet the workers’ demands, including ones such as “a reduction of the hours of labor…due share of work and wages to the reserve army of labor and eliminate many of the work abuses of the industrial system…Labor…insists upon the exercise of the right to organize for self and mutual protection…lives…of the wage-workers shall be regarded as sacred…than an injury or destruction of either by reason…or maliciousness…shall not leave him without redress…and by no means the least demand of the Trade Unions is for adequate wages.” Groups such as the Knights of Labor and the American Federation of Labor fought for these demands. People did not want to be seen as objects, and they wanted shorter hours. They insisted on adequate wages and wanted the right to organize. Reform groups sought for workers’ compensation laws so workers can do their job in fair conditions. Gompers addresses the large companies to help the community by reducing their unemployment rate and is advocating that labor unions should protect the interests of the workers by fighting for fair wages, better treatment, and better working conditions. In addition to the labor unions, political parties emerged to contribute to the reform for working conditions. The People’s Party Platform in Doc. E sought to “restore the government of the Republic to the hands of ‘the plain people.’” It also sought to end oppression, injustice, and poverty and wanted the power of the people to be expanded into government. The Populist Party supported political and social reform, and wanted a strong government in the hands of the people. They did not want the wealthy to run all aspects of political life. Instead, the Populist Party appealed to the lower classes in society as they nominated their own presidential candidate in 1892. Industrialization brought forth many reform movements to make the life of people of the Gilded Age better. Industrialization transformed American society by spurring economic growth. Workers and employees of the time portrayed these economic, political, and social changes as a destructive result as they had negatively impacted the lower classes, but they eventually led to the United States becoming a leading world power. Workers relied on social reform, labor unions, and political parties to help guide the way to a better life. The robber barons were the center of life. The nation entered a new era in which business was the focus of the economy. Everything revolved around city life and businesses. Overall, the Gilded Age had heavily impacted the United States from 1865 to 1900. The focus of the economy shifted from agriculture to industry; the technological advancements allowed the monopolists to control the government; and the formation of the social classes sparked reform movements within the labor force and social classes. Without the age of industry, the United States would not have advanced like it has to this day.