3rd year

Study of Civilisation texts

Teacher: Mr. Mokhtari

The Industrial Revolution in The United States

The Industrial Revolution is a complex set of economic, technological, and social changes that occurred
over a substantial period of time. The Industrial Revolution took place in many places throughout the
world including England, North America, Continental & Eastern Europe, and Asia. The Industrial
Revolution in America totally transformed the United States until it ultimately grew into a major
economy in the world and turned out to be the most powerful global superpower. The US Industrial
Revolution resulted in social and economic changes that marked the transition from a stable agricultural
and commercial society to modern industrial society.

Historical Background of Industrialization in the United States

Industrialization started in France around 1830, in Germany after 1850, and in the United States after
the Civil War. The United States continued to be largely an agrarian society, even as Western European
countries like England, France and Germany, began to become industrialized in the late 1700s. To fulfil
the rapidly growing demand for resources that were extensively available on the lands of America, it
was necessary for America to increase its technological capacity. For this purpose, American
businessmen started competing with one another to develop such technologies and in the process, they
were able to learn from one another. This technological advancement changed the US economy by
altering the production processes. The impact of the US Industrial Revolution was felt on a global scale.
Samuel Slater was one such American businessman. Slater was completely aware that British
manufacturing designs were in demand in the United States. Therefore, he memorized as much as
possible because the export of such designs was unlawful under British Law. Industrialist Moses
Brown, after investing in a mill that would use British designs, recruited Slater, who had relocated to
New York. Slater became wealthy when the first textile mill powered by water was opened in 1793.
President Andrew Jackson named Samuel Slater the "Father of the Industrial Revolution in America"
in recognition of his contributions, but his fellow Countrymen in Great Britain dubbed him "Slater the
Traitor" for exposing British plans to the American public.
In addition, Robert Fulton's steam-powered ships, which would facilitate transportation in the great
American rivers, were other forms of innovation. The Erie Canal, whose construction began in 1817,
was one of the most important developments. Once completed, it linked New York City's ports to those
of other US port cities, increased the population of New York State, and enabled farther-western regions
more favorable for settlements.
Industrial Revolution in America 1793-1865
The Industrial Revolution was the shift to new processes of manufacturing in Europe and the United
States. It is a process where an agrarian and handicraft economy shifts to an economy dominated by
industry and machine manufacturing. This involves the changeover from hand production techniques to
machines, chemical and iron manufacturing processes, usage of steam and water power, and an upsurge
in the mechanized factory system. As the industrialization of Western Europe commenced in the 1700s,
the United States stood agrarian with resource processing and mills being the major industrial, non-
agrarian yield. As the demand for resources augmented, canals and railroads proved substantial for
economic growth, particularly in areas where resources were being mined, such as the Western frontier.
This enabled the US to broaden its technological capabilities, which resulted in an Industrial Revolution
in America, with its entrepreneurs learning from each other to build better technology, fundamentally
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changing the U.S. economy. The Industrial Revolution was a period during the initial 100 years of
United States history in which its economy advanced from farm labor to an enhanced degree of
industrialization based on labor. There were many advancements in technology and manufacturing
fundamentals, with results that considerably enhanced the overall production and economic
development of the United States.
The Industrial Revolution occurred in two separate phases with the first phase of the industrial
revolution (1750-1850) commencing in England and then spreading to Continental Europe and North
America and the second phase (1850-1914) commencing in America and then spreading to Europe. This
revolution spread to the US around 1820 and sustained for the next 50 years. Massachusetts, frequently
regarded as the "Cradle of the Industrial Revolution in America, played a crucial part in the US industrial
revolution, owing to the presence of a large number of textile factories such as The Beverly Cotton
(1787) and Waltham Mill (1814). Even though the early American industrial revolution was mainly
limited to New England where a number of major textile mills were built in the area, accelerating the
industrialization of the area, in the long run, it spread to the West, and then, after the Second industrial
revolution that took place in the late 19th century, it expanded to the South.
Factors that led to the US Industrial Revolution

One of the major causes that led to the first industrial revolution in America was the Embargo Act of
1807 which restricted Americans from importing goods from overseas nations during the war between
France and England. It was hoped that economic hardship would force England and France to quit
attacking American merchant ships and obstructing one another's trade with the Americans. The
measure, however, had no impact on the economies of Britain or France but completely destroyed the
American economy. The embargo thus inspired Americans to start manufacturing for themselves, to
fulfil their own demands. The War of 1812 reinforced that feeling among the Americans as they lost
access to fishing and shipping on the Eastern coast subsequent to the War of 1812. As a result, the
Americans began their production on a bigger scale in order to make massive profits and become
independent in the manufacturing of commodities.

The remarkable inventions during the second half of the nineteenth century that witnessed an
acceleration in industrialization owing to new discoveries. For instance, the invention of electricity and
the light bulb permitted the manufacturers to work for longer hours and it thus resulted in the production
of many more goods. The advent of electricity, that was a significant cause that resulted in the second
industrial revolution in America, enabled the development of the electric motor, which vastly improved
transportation and sped up the development of the electric trolley and the electric subway train. Railroad
also networks in the U.S. spurred the growth of firms like coal and steel and sped up the conveyance of
goods to the market, thus stimulating mass production, mass consumption, and economic specialization.
The abundance of Natural Resources was another significant cause as The United States had access
to a variety of natural resources, including timber, water, coal, iron, copper, silver, and gold. Moreover,
the supply of labor was guaranteed by massive waves of the young immigrants who came to America,
and had a strong commitment and willingness to make money and were available for any type of work.
Furthermore, the absence of political control encouraged business owners invested their money to
get higher profits as they had no restrictions on how high they could raise their levels of profits because
there was no political stand in the nation. In fact, the lack of government regulation permitted businesses
to bloom and develop at a swift pace because businessmen had complete control of their firms without
the interference of the government. However, this absence of government interference favorable to
businesses resulted in widespread environmental problems and poor working conditions. The
Settlement of the American West played an important role in the industrialization of the country
especially after the Mexican war and the acquisition of large territories thanks to the westward
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expansion. More settlers would venture west as a result of government support, establishing industrial
hubs in the area.

The Impact of the Industrial Revolution on the United States

The Industrial Revolution largely changed the US economy, which eventually resulted in the US
dominating the world nations on an unprecedented level of technology.

Economic Impacts
The industrial revolution resulted in the rapid urbanization of America, with people moving from the
countryside to the cities. In 1800, only about 6% of the people of America lived in cities, but by 1900
the number had augmented to 40% and by 1920, a vast majority of Americans resided in cities. These
new economic changes gave rise to social and cultural transformations, such as the establishment of
distinct social classes, in specific a new middle class that comprised entrepreneurs, businessmen,
lawyers, and medical professionals. The industrialization of America made its agriculture the most
effective agriculture in the world, at least in terms of the dollar and cent costs of productivity. This, in
turn, helped the nation to form the strongest economy in the world. The industrial revolution also
resulted in a rise in unskilled labor. Before the 1 19th century, most Americans who were not engaged
in agriculture performed a skilled trade.

Social Impacts
Poor working conditions and meagre wages led to the formation of labor unions. These labor unions
came about as workers had very little political support due to the fact that many of them were immigrants
and women who were not permitted to cast votes. Each of the social classes possessed its own culture
and views and its own set of values and they would frequently engage in conflicts, giving rise to more
polarized political parties and factions.

Political Impacts
Native Americans were impacted by the Revolution because it led to the expansion of western
settlements and the emergence of governments that were antagonistic to their territorial claims. In a
broader sense, the Revolution put an end to the mercantilist economy, creating new prospects for
industry and trade. Written constitutions were drafted by the new states, which at the time represented
a significant departure from the British Constitution's long-standing unwritten nature. These new state
constitutions were built on the concept of "popular sovereignty," which holds that the people are what
gives the government its power and legitimacy.

The Industrial Revolution has brought about a significant change in the technological, socio-
economical and cultural conditions of America. The United States witnessed the second Industrial
Revolution in the mid-1800s, making way for its global superpower status. New modes of conveyance
and the invention of electricity transformed the United States in the subsequent years. With the
conclusion of World War I, the American Industrial Revolution considerably modified the face of the
nation. This revolution, which involved major changes in transportation, manufacturing, and
communications, transformed the daily lives of Americans as much as— and arguably more than—any
single event in U.S. history.