Industrial Economy Dbq

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America was not the official united states of America until George Washington was unanimously elected as president in 1789. Overtime, the country has improved, starting from a weak government due to the articles of confederation, and transitioning into a strong democratic government. Just as the first government style was not stellar, throughout the earlier times in the history of America, people have struggled to deal with finding suitable jobs with proper conditions and earning money to provide for their families. Work in the 1750s consisted of maintaining the farm, watering the crops, and harvesting the crops for money. It was easier for people to be able to work in vicinities near their homes. Certain crops required extra care and time …show more content…

Eventually, people were becoming desperate to earn money so ideas of industrialization were considered. Although, appealing more to Northerners so machinery was produced in the revolutionary era, causing the spark of ideas for creating bigger products. America was caught in a transition between an agricultural company to a completely industrial economy during the civil war era. Although, the south was lagging behind, being a predominantly agricultural economy. Therefore, most of the manufacturing products came from Northern areas since factories were located there. At this time, working in factories were desired rather than the manual labor of farming. The spike of the industrial era was during the gilded age and progressive era with the South having also transitioned into an industrial economy. However, it came to the point where factories were nearly touching, overcrowding cities everywhere. People began to realize how terrible the working conditions in the factories were. It is evident that overtime the working conditions of America gradually worsened due to the lack of interest in farming, the desperation to earn money, and the spike of …show more content…

With the increasing amount of factories, nearly every citizen belonged in one, working away hours. Work in the factory was described as long, cramped, and monotonous. Workers were compelled to eat in the company lunchrooms provided with food that could be eaten by animals. As well as the fact that they were forced to live in the company houses, sleeping with complete strangers. Many factories initiated contracts, forcing people to maintain their jobs for at least two years (Bimba 67-70). It is evident that the increase of industrialization created the horrible working conditions. When farming was around, citizens were able to choose their own hours, stopping when the pain became too much. But now that factories were maintaining places of land, citizens were forced to join the more modern way of living, by enduring long hours in factories. Eventually citizens recognized the pain they suffered because of the factories, citizens of “all different classes and groups of people took part in the revolts” (Lawrence 248-249). Essentially, the owners of factories created the terrible environment for the citizens, further proving how industrialization caused the increase of horrible working

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