Evolution of American Industry: 1750-1850

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By the time 1750 came around, American was experiencing what is known as the First Industrial Revolution (circa 1780-1850). It is hard now to fathom the idea of having to function economically without the use of factories, factory machines, and factory workers. By history shifting from the cottage industry, traditional agriculture, and manual labor into a factory-based manufacturing type systems made of complex machinery, constant technological expansion, and new energy sources and advanced in transportation, we evolved. The entire world evolved, soon to rely on industries to survive. For hundreds of years, life was focused on agriculture. Most people lived in countries because city development was minimal. Most families farmed their own …show more content…

Industrialization caused population migration from rural areas to urban areas. Cities expanded rapidly to provide homes for workers being employed in the factories. Workers faced harsh conditions everywhere. Living conditions were cramped, unsafe and unclean. Men, women and children labored long hours for minimal wages in dangerous conditions and no job security. The working class was financially and physically unprotected by the government as the middle and upper class grew wealthier and more powerful. (Riane Eisler (2007)). The social impact of the industrial revolution differentiated across the regions and classes. As factories emerged around towns, the population increased because of the migration from rural areas to the more convenient urban areas. New family and class structures became more evident to accommodate to the new wage economy and production was no longer in homes but in factories due to the need of large scale production. The cities transcended from 10% Europeans to an increase of 52% Englishmen, 25% Frenchmen and 36% Germans living in the cities. (Abdul Najeeb, (12th December …show more content…

Family as known in the 1800’s denoted a relationship of dependency on the head of the household states Najeeb (2012). The positions of women working in the factories became a necessity. Not only did the financial necessity become evident but the feminine need became important in textile type factories, but also in child care, domestic and laundry care. Children, especially daughters, were also important in the economic recourse for working class families and were put to work as young as ages 10-14 years to contribute to family income. In the middle-class families, children and wives usually did not work. It was not financially necessary for them to work. The children went to school and the women were the chief organizer around the home they resided in. The middle and upper-class wives delegated the jobs of the working class employees within their homes. (Abdul Najeeb, (12th December

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