Nation Develops

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer discusses that by the end of the 19th century, the United States had not only established itself as a political power but an economic one as well. The writer notes that key factors affecting the rise of the American economy can almost all be traced to the impact of the Industrial Revolution and the unique ways that revolution played out in the United States. The writer concludes that the combination of technological innovations, lack of governmental regulation, and urbanization propelled America to economic dominance.

From the Paper:

"The factory model replaced the artisan model of employment, resulting in several major social revolutions. For instance, large numbers of Americans moved to urban centers in search of work. Urbanization centralized the means of production, through the co-location of manufacturing technologies within one factory and through the co-location of workers within the factory. As more Americans moved to urban centers, fewer ran family farms; agriculture had become a big business too. The railroads facilitated urbanization in many ways: by making it easier for laborers to move from rural to urban areas; and by making it easier to transport raw materials from rural areas or abroad to the city centers. The rise of urbanization in America also favored immigration, for immigrants were able to take advantage of the plethora of work opportunities in one central area. Family businesses and small artisan shops provided the main means of employment before the Industrial Revolution, after which urban-area factories became a dominant economic and social force. Because factories attracted large numbers of domestic and immigrant laborers, they were able to grow rapidly in size and scope. Immigration became a major social revolution precipitated by the Industrial Revolution, dramatically altering the ethnic, social, economic, and political landscape of the United States."

Sample of Sources Used:

• DeLong, J.B. (1998). Robber Barons. Retrieved Sept 23, 2006 from http://www.j-bradford-delong.net/Econ_Articles/carnegie/DeLong_Moscow_paper2.html
• "Industrial Revolution: Information Page." (nd). ThinkQuest. Retrieved Sept 23, 2006 from http://library.thinkquest.org/4132/info.htm
• "The Roots of American Economic Growth." (nd). Digital History. Retrieved Sept 23, 2006 from http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=604

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