Industrial Revolution Effects

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The Industrial Revolution “transformed the daily lives of Americans as much as—and arguably more than—any single event in U.S. history”. It was marked by significant advances in technology and industry that had broad and enduring impacts. Even though the start of the industrial revolution is said to have begun in the first half of the 19th century, the real industrialization of America did not begin until after the Civil War. The American economy accelerated its growth after the Civil War as it entered “The Second Industrial Revolution,” generally recognized as the period between 1870 and 1914. This secondary movement created long lasting effects in many areas for America. The most significant consequences of the industrialization of America …show more content…

The growth of factories and all other associated businesses created numerous opportunities for those seeking to increase their wealth. It wasn’t just the Rockefellers and the Carnegies that benefitted from this period in American history. Many small businesses were also created as a result of the tremendous development of the cities. Income growth for all Americans saw significant increases. Prior to this period, most income was gained from farming and most farmers earned enough to sustain their homestead from year to year. Machinery soon replaced the hand tools and animal-powered farm implements which allowed the farmers to increase their crop yields per season as they were able to farm more land effectively. Higher yields equalled higher profits for farmers. Before the Civil War it took 61 hours of labor to produce an acre of wheat. By 1900, it took 3 hours, 19 minutes. Those who left the farms for the cities were greeted by factories and businesses in dire need of a work force. This also created many opportunities for jobs ‘in the middle’, those jobs between the elite monopolists who owned the businesses and the lower paid laborers who worked the assembly lines at the factories. The American middle class has its roots in the Industrial Revolution. The industrialization of America created a shift in wealth …show more content…

It was also accountable for numerous other consequences that had long lasting effects on not just America, but the world as a whole. It had a huge influence on the shift of people from rural areas into the cities and an even larger impact on immigration. This industrialization also led to a significant shift in wealth and helped to create the middle class. However, the most significant effect of the industrialization of America is that it shifted the balance of power and eventually led to America becoming one of the world’s superpowers. Stephen Gardiner, a British architect and writer summed it up nicely when he said; “The Industrial Revolution was another one of those extraordinary jumps forward in the story of

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