Paper
The American Industrial Revolution had many profound and
indelible effects on American society. The enormous
expansion of American business and industry promoted a
drastic change in the basic division of labor. The basic
need of industry is labor, so a great demand for a workforce
was created. Growing industrialization caused a huge influx
of laborers into cities. As more factories sprang up, labor
was expanded to utilize women and children. With expanding
business and more workers, workers began to adamantly demand
higher wages or more favorable hours; unionization came into
full force. The American Industrial Revolution caused major
growth of urban populations, precipitated a change the
division of labor, and began movements for workers rights
that led to unionization.
The migration of laborers from rural farm life to urban
factory life was a major result of America s
industrialization. A fact of economic life is that workers
in an industrial setting are able to command higher wages
than farm workers. Labor in an industrial setting is simply
more efficient than the productivity of farm workers.
Because economic systems compensate laborers in accordance
with their output rather than how hard or how long they
work, industrial labor becomes the obvious choice for a
worker. As Chamberlain states in The Enterprising
Americans, The productivity for a worker in a factory could
be as much as ten times that of their farming counterparts
(97). Simply stated, the simple gain in productivity meant
a wage increase ten times that of farm work, only by
switching to industrial labor. For the great majority of
workers, this was too much to resist, causing an exodus of
laborers from rural to urban areas and skyrocketing the
urban population.
As factories spread, there was a high demand for
workers. However, during the early stages of
industrialization, labor was difficult to obtain. In urban
areas, most suitable laborers were skilled artisans that
were unlikely to switch over to the unskilled work of a
factory laborer. The answer came with the influx of rural
unskilled workers to the cities. In addition to the
economic benefits, rural families were flocking to the
cities because new farming technology was lessening the
amount of labor necessary to produce the crops. The
factories had a huge new segment of the population from
which to draw unskilled workers. In many cases, especially
in those of textile mills, all sources of labor were tapped.
Many factories recruited entire families to work, while some
mills utilized female labor almost exclusively. This Lowell
system relied on women laborers as a workforce. The
practice of using women labor was so profitable because it
was acceptable to pay women much less than male laborers.
To further lower the costs of labor, industry often used
child labor. Children worked for even less than women, and
therefore, were widely used. Some states discouraged the
practice, but the laws were not strictly enforced, plus
there were they were easily sidestepped. New Hampshire
passed a law stating that no minor under fifteen years of
age shall work for more than ten hours per day without the
consent of a parent or guardian. The clause providing
parental consent was a simple loophole, since the families
of many children laborers were working in the same factory
themselves. Horace Greeley stated his disapproval of the
New Hampshire legislature when he asked, Will any one
pretend that ten hours per day, especially at confining and
monotonous avocations which tax at once the brain and the
sinews are not quite enough for any child to labor statedly
and steadily? He believed that the States must avert the
trend of parents giving consent for child labor by
specifically limiting and enforcing the hours of child labor
(Orth 53). Child labor laws became a major issue for the
workforce and many politicians alike. Industrialization
created a new division of labor that utilized women and
children at very low wages.
There were many factors that contributed to discontent
among the workforce of the American Industrial Revolution.
Multitudes of primarily rural workers had to come to grips
with the fact that their new, urban lifestyle was totally
different than their old, rural one. With the speedy growth
of the urban population, typical urban problems arose.
Families were clustered tightly together, and with the
soaring population density came increases in crime,
increases in disease, and high levels of stress on the
family. Workers wanted to improve their situation, and
naturally they sought help from their employers. Most
frequently, laborers demanded a work day with fewer hours.
In 1833, in the first successful strike in American history,
the Trades Union of the City and County of Philadelphia
successfully demanded a ten hour day. Politicians jumped at
the chance to garner support from the working class, and in
1847, New Hampshire passed the first law mandating the ten
hour work day; Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, and Rhode
Island soon adopted the same ten-hour system (Orth 54).
Women also played key roles in union actions. In 1836, the
women workers of the Lowell factories struck for higher
wages. The Lowell women persisted in their crusades, and
eventually the Lowell Female Industrial Reform and Mutual
Aid Society formulated. They were influential on a wide
scale, and they played the key role in convincing
Massachusetts to favorably adapt their labor laws. The
trend toward a shorter work day continued with demands for
an eight hour day. Ira Steward developed a pamphlet called
A Reduction of Hours and Increase of Wages that influenced
many states to implement an eight hour day. Various labor
societies formed during the period following the Civil War,
but the major step was taken when the National Labor Union
was formed in 1866. A major step at a fully national union,
the NLA had a membership of nearly 700,000 at its peak (Orth
230). The National Labor Union lasted only a short while,
but it did much to promote the eight hour work day, and it
instituted labor bureaus to monitor trends in labor.
The American Industrial Revolution greatly affected
patterns of society. It caused a massive migration of
workers from the countryside to the city. In an effort to
gain unskilled labor, factories created a new division of
labor by implementing the practice of using woman and child
workers. New social institutions arose as the result of the
industrialization process and its chaotic urban lifestyle.
Unions came to be so that workers could fight for their
rights and achieve their demands for higher wages and a
shorter work day. Overall, the American Industrial
Revolution was the causing factor of many social changes,
many of which have survived to the present.
Другие работы по теме:
Leguin
’s Omelas Essay, Research Paper Living out Omelas In Le Guin s The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas, we find ourselves faced with a moral dilemma. What is it that we as people base our happiness on? The idea of societal and personal happiness is played out through the analogy of Omelas and the abandoned child. In this story, we are drawn into Le Guin s world by use of her vivid descriptions.
Censorship Essay Research Paper The negative messages
Censorship Essay, Research Paper The negative messages kids receive via the media have a damaging affect on their psyche and can create serious societal problems. In truth “[t]he violence to which American children are exposed in the name of
Laheys Teaching Technique Essay Research Paper Essay
Laheys Teaching Technique Essay, Research Paper Essay on Lahey? Introductory Notes After reading the introductory notes, I believe that the most important point that was presented in the notes was the definition of psychology. In order to understand the different causes and effects of psychology, you must first be able to know and understand the definition of it.
Essay On The Movie
“Lord Of The Flies” Essay, Research Paper Essay On the Movie “Lord of the Flies” After viewing the movie The Lord of the Flies, I would say that this movie is
Columbine Essay Research Paper Columbine Cause and
Columbine Essay, Research Paper Columbine: Cause and Effect The Columbine tragedy has struck another victim last week. If all thoughts were that the tragedy was behind us, no one has considered the effects of the massacre. A student that was injured in the massacre was making progress on recovering, when backlash from the tragedy struck.
Teen Smoking Essay Research Paper Negative effects
Teen Smoking Essay, Research Paper Negative effects of Marijuana Marijuana is the least harmful drug, but it does have negative health effects. Though moderate users of marijuana are taking less risks than a moderate
How Rap Effects Socity Essay Research Paper
Many individuals in our society today believe that the positive portrayal of violence and sex in rap music has negative effects on its listeners. Due to this widespread perception, many studies have systematically examined rap music for evidence of its negative effects.
Geographic Features Of A Region Has Important
Effects On Development Essay, Research Paper Geographic Features of A Region Has Important Effects on Development The geographic features of a nation or region have an important effect
Enfluening OF Music Essay Research Paper This
Enfluening OF Music Essay, Research Paper This Essay is about how music can influence the emotions and effects of a person. I will be giving you precentages. I will also be giving you quotes of students
Societal Marketing Concept Essay Research Paper The
Societal Marketing Concept Essay, Research Paper The societal marketing concept holds that the organisation should concentrate on the needs and wants of their customers, and then deliver the desired satisfactions more effectively and efficiently than competitors, in a way that maintains or improves the consumer’s and the society’s well-being.
The Banning Of
“E For Ecstasy” By Nicholas Saunders Essay, Research Paper The Banning of “E for Ecstasy” by Nicholas Saunders The book entitled E for Ecstasy, by Nicholas Saunders, is a book of
Global Warming Effects Essay Research Paper How
Global Warming Effects Essay, Research Paper How the World is changing due to the effects caused by Global Warming The reason for this topic is our increasingly changing climate. Every year our climate
Soil Component Lab Essay Research Paper The
Soil Component Lab Essay, Research Paper The purpose of this lab is to separate soil by setting in water to find the % of various components. In this lab I learned a lot. I learned that there is a lot more stuff to the soil than we can see; there is floating leaf litter, Sunken leaf litter, silt and sand all in a jar of soil.
The Yellow Wallpaper By Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Essay, Research Paper Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s story, “The Yellow Wallpaper,” explores the restricted societal roles of both Jane and John. Gilman, a strong supporter of women’s rights, focuses on her account with depression through this story (Hill 150). Traditionally, the man must take care of the woman both financially and emotionally while the woman’s role remains at home.
Love 3 Essay Research Paper It was
Love 3 Essay, Research Paper It was Nicholas Chamfort who once said, once love is purged of vanity, it resembles a feeble convalescent, hardly able to drag itself about. One could not agree with him more. He, like so many other people, has realized that love euphemistically describes the effects of an instinctual drive and depends entirely on physical appearance and opportunity.
Effects Of Alcoholism Essay Research Paper Effects
Effects Of Alcoholism Essay, Research Paper Effects of Alcoholism Growing up in a family with daily alcohol use as a way of life can have a profound effect on a young child’s mind. Most of the time this situation would seem to have a negative effect on all the people surrounded by this problem. Sometimes it can be a blessing in disguise depending on how it is looked at.
Television 2
Television’s Effects On Children Essay, Research Paper Television’s Effects on Children The American Psychological Association released a warning today about television’s generally negative effects on children.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Essay Research Paper It
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Essay, Research Paper It can take as little as one ounce of alcohol for a child to suffer from Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. This is the leading cause of mental retardation in the Western World. It is now widely accepted by nmedical authorities and researchers that women who drink during pregnancy can adversely affect the development of their unborn infant.
Virii Essay Research Paper Viruses are
Virii Essay, Research Paper Viruses are not truly alive. They are much smaller and less complex than cells. Most viruses multiply exclusively inside living host cells. Viruses
Jane Eyre Essay Research Paper The ambiguity
Jane Eyre Essay, Research Paper The ambiguity of Jane Eyre with respect to gender and class actually makes it more interesting to read. It struggles with sensitive subjects, and sometimes it fails to defy societal convention. But its failures are often as interesting as its successes. It doesn’t pretend to offer an ultimate truth of personal freedom.
Premarital Sex Essay Research Paper Premarital SexPremarital
Premarital Sex Essay, Research Paper Premarital Sex Premarital sex, an act that is practiced excessively in the world today, is not all that it is caught up to be. It definitely has more side effects than benefits. Premarital sex is an action that causes one’s emotional, social, spiritual and physical being to become corrupted.
Gender And Communication Essay Research Paper In
Gender And Communication Essay, Research Paper In response to what we have discussed thus far in Interpersonal Communication, I would like to further explore the idea of gender in the interpersonal communication arena. As was said in class, gender influences cultural perspectives. Gender also influences how we view ourselves in society.
Pesticides Essay Research Paper Pesticides include insecticides
Pesticides Essay, Research Paper Pesticides include insecticides, herbicides and fungicides, which kill insects, weeds, and are harmful to humans. They often have direct or indirect effects on other living things. Synthetic pesticides are chemical compounds; some are more toxic than others. Synthetic pesticides can release compounds that are more toxic than the original pesticides when they break down in the environment.
Gold Rush Essay Research Paper The California
Gold Rush Essay, Research Paper The California Gold Rush had many effects on the American people, westward expansion, the environment, economy and Indian relations ultimately affecting the world as a whole. When John Marshall first found gold in January 1848 at Sutter’s Mill in California many people on the east coast did not believe the news.
Success Essay Research Paper SuccessOne has achieved
Success Essay, Research Paper Success One has achieved success who has lived well and laughed often. This quote seems to sum up what is meant by success. If you are able to laugh often and much then you have definitely achieved happiness. The idea of living well, though, is a very broad statement. In order, then, to define success in relation to this statement, we must first define what it means to live well.
Effects Of Smoking 2 Essay Research Paper
Smoking has many side effects many of these effects being serious life altering side effects and not simply cosmetic. The cosmetic effects are all well known from the smell of cigarette smoke, to yellowing teeth. But also are the effects of lung cancer to not only the smoker but to anyone who is near them or being exposed to the second hand smoke of the smoker.
Effects Of Smoking Essay Research Paper Smoking
Effects Of Smoking Essay, Research Paper Smoking has many effects on the body and tobacco companies have many ways to advertise but one major target group. In this paper I will tell how they do both. Smoking has effects on all parts of the body. We?ll start with the brain. Smoking impairs your ability to concentrate and to think straight.
Child Poverty Essay Research Paper CHILDREN AND
Child Poverty Essay, Research Paper CHILDREN AND POVERTY IN CANADA The purpose of this project is to discuss child poverty and child welfare practice. There is a need to critically examine the issue and situate the causes of
Effects Of Media Essay Research Paper It
Effects Of Media Essay, Research Paper It is not so easy to understand what exactly Gitlin is trying to state or prove about television. Although it is not clear, Gitlin does state some important points and facts about his view on television and popular culture. Gitlin raises the question of “More to the point, is television now a dominant force in shaping the character of Americans?” I would have to answer yes to this question.
How Advertising Effects What You Buy Essay
, Research Paper HOW ADVERTISING EFFECTS WHAT YOU BUY Thesis: Advertising has different effects on consumers, it changes their prospective on what is, and what is not, worth buying, what they buy and when they buy it.
Legalize Marijuana Essay Research Paper I for
Legalize Marijuana Essay, Research Paper I, for one, believe that Marijuana should be legalized. I have several reasons for this, the main one is that it would almost completely eliminate the crime and other
Rome Essay Research Paper Rome was a
Rome Essay, Research Paper Rome was a major power because it always made certain its own military prowess was preeminent. There have been many ideas presented as to the fall of the Roman Empire. Many believe that Rome declined morally and the violence and decadence of the societal norms led to the demise. Gibbons has been credited with the theory of the influence and transference of Christianity over the Roman system of Gods and Goddesses that perpetrated the fall.