American Industrialization

Paper Summary:

William Jackson, in his book "A History of the United States Between the Civil War and 1900" notes, "as a result of the Industrial Revolution and the expansion of America westward and beyond, the influence of the corporations continue today and sheds light on an ever-growing domestic travesty". The paper shows that in the decades between 1860 and 1900, the United States underwent numerous social and political changes brought about by the devastating consequences of the Civil War, the great westward expansion beyond the Mississippi River, the development of class structures in American cities and especially the developments that resulted from the Industrial Revolution. The paper shows that all of these together not only altered the entire face of American society but also helped to make the country one of the most important and powerful nations in the western hemisphere.

From the Paper:

"But by the middle of the 19th century, agriculture began to take on a brand-new meaning, for many farmers saw the potential in growing larger crops as surplus or even by specializing in certain cash crops, such as cotton and tobacco, which could be sold at market for high profits. The increasing demand for cotton by the textile mills of Great Britain furthered the need for machinery and brought about a huge demand for new inventions which literally created the rise of the American South as a major exporter of many other cash crops, such as sugar, rice, linen flax and especially hemp for rope fiber, clothing and numerous other dry goods. In the regions of the Northeast, the explosive growth of cities and towns centered around mills created an enormous demand for hogs, cattle, sheep, corn, wheat, wool, butter, milk, cheese, fruits and vegetables and fodder to feed horses, the primary mode of transportation up until the expansion of the railroads into all areas of the country."

More papers on American Industrialization:

• Essay # 85424 : "Poverty and the Labor Movement in American Industrialization"
• Analytical Essay # 148118 : "American Industrialization Urban Systems"
• Term Paper # 120691 : "American Industrial Revolution"

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