Progress and Poverty in Industrial America Essay

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Hartnell College *

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17A

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History

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Oct 30, 2023

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Uploaded by JusticeDugong1998

4/7/15-4/21/15 Period 5 History Advantages and Disadvantages of Industrialization in the American Society After the Civil War, the United States became a much more industrialized society. Industrialization improved American life in many ways. However, industrialization also created problems for American society. Industrialization began around 1865, people needed jobs to help support their families. That’s when they found a job opportunity to work in the factories. This increased the population because soon everybody else wanted a job working in the factory. An example of an advantage was that the percentage of 17 year olds who graduated from high school kept increasing between 1870-1810 shown in Document 1. This meant that the nation was going to have more educated people who would participate in government and held the jobs available. Another advantage was that the Urban percent of US population increased. A third advantage of industrialization to the American Society was that the infant mortality rate decreased. This meant that from the year 1870, at 170,000 deaths under the age of 1 year, to the year of 1910, at 117,000, the rate decreased by 53,000. This was an advantage because that meant the infants who lived, were able to ,hopefully, graduate high school and get a job. However the number of employed children under 15 years old was also increasing. It increased from 0.7 million to 1.63 million under age employed children, also mentioned in Document 1. This meant that these kids who were supposed to be getting an education, going to school were being exploited. Sometimes earning a lot less than any other employee group of workers. The poor living conditions of these kids and have been a reason for working so young. Another second disadvantage was that, in Document 3, Henry George believed that industrialization was not very beneficial to everyone equally. In simpler terms he reemphasized

4/7/15-4/21/15 Period 5 History the quote, “The rich got richer and the poor got poorer.” Another disadvantage was the dangerous and poor working conditions, as mentioned in Document 5. The working conditions in the coalmines were dangerous because, as stated in Document 5, “...the hundred perils, there usually comes to him an attack of ‘miner’s asthma’ that slowly rocks and shakes him into the grave.” It was also dangerous because as stated, “There is an insidious, silent enemy in the gas. If the fanwheel on the top of the earth should stop for a brief period, there is certain death.” This final disadvantage may begin to seem as if it were an advantage but, believe me, it was not. In Document 6 the information given emphasizes that for many of the immigrants coming to the US, finding work was not very difficult. Just like the increasement of employees in the factory, child labor began to increase. This was not a good thing because it meant that out of all the hard work the children put into their jobs, since they are still at such a young age, their body and muscles slowly grew weak and very tired. Not only was it because they were such hard workers but because of their environment, many grew very ill and/or injured. As you can see, industrialization brought many advantages and disadvantages to the American Society. Industrialization helped out many families when they came into the US as immigrants. Even though many spent their days in the factories and others in hazardous work environments, they still were able to salvage enough money to keep their families alive.

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