How Did Industrialization Affect The United States

Industrialization has always created a strong impact on the history of the United States. After the War of 1812, American nationalism increased and an industrial revolution exploded. Factories, textile mills, and other industrial centers were built and the job market increased significantly. Thus, many people became employed. This increase in industry also caused technological advances due to renewed spirit in inventing. The time period from 1815 to 1860 characterized a major shift from agriculture to industry in the United States. Industrialization reverberated throughout the entire states but effected different areas in different ways. These economies caused the specialization of the Northeast and Southern regions however it also brought

However, it was during the industrial revolution when the economy of the Northeast really exploded and urban areas started to grow exponentially. Buildings, such as factories, were common in areas such as New York and one could not travel so far as not to see one. The Lowell System was introduced at textile mills. Young girls were sent to live and work in horrid factories to provide money for families. Factory life was harsh and the conditions were unbearable compared to today’s standards. For instance, employees worked 12 hours per day. Additionally spinning a wheel and being bobbin-doffers were dangerous jobs; workers lost limbs. As previously stated, the New England area was comprised of mainly factory workers during this period. In addition to factory life, the industrial revolution affected the economic policies of the United States. Tariffs became a major part of foreign policy. The north favored high tariffs in order protect its manufactured goods and their interests. This was an aspect that the Northeast and the South fought over repeatedly and it eventually led to the Nullification Crisis of

However, the south was not as dirt-poor as many made it out to be. In reality, it became very wealthy by just staying an agriculturally based economy. This is because the north became the main market for the south. While the Northeastern economy became more foreign in its market, Southern plantations were local in their markets. The population of the South was scattered while the population of the North was quite dense. Cotton was the main cash-crop of the South because of Eli Whitney’s invention, the cotton gin. Cotton became extremely profitable and it was exported to Europe and also to the Northeast. The large plantations increased the demand for slave labor due to the invention of the cotton gin. The economy shifted from tobacco and rice to cotton. The large plantations exported most of the cotton. This led to a small amount of rich plantations while the majority of the south stayed rather low-class. The South did have factories however there were few and they were open mainly to aid in Southern interests. The goal of them was not to produce profit. Railways were the same as this. The existing rail lines that were in South were for shipping cotton and a few other goods to the North. However, the South did have large ports and harbors. Both the North and South utilized the ports and also the Mississippi River. Although the Southern economy did not grow it terms