Post by laurencox on Jan 28, 2016 4:28:16 GMT
Prompt: How did the effects of industrialization change the American standard of living, its class structure, and its class distinctions from 1860-1900?
Explanation of prompt: how did industrialization change american life
-industrialization is a key theme throughout this unit and it greatly affected the social
status of all americans
Key Terms: Urbanization, Industrialization, immigration, ethnic diversity, tenements, monopoly
Relevant dates: second wave of immigration- started in 1890's
panic of 1873
urbanization throughout late nineteenth century
Introduction:
-the end of slavery (loss of free labor) and the rapid expansion of technology led to the second wave of industrialization in america
-the improvements in transportation, such as the transcontinental railroad, and the development of the railroad industry made industrialization possible
Thesis: As a result of industrialization, the general standard of living increased, but the wealth gap widened, leading to clear distinctions between the upper and lower classes.
Standard of living:
-Although the standard of living improved for the rich, a significant portion of the population lived in extreme poverty and extraordinary squalor.
-Industrialization created more jobs for the abundance of workers from the second wave of immigration and for people that left their agricultural communities for the cities- increase in urbanization led to low wages and too little space for too many people
- overpopulated and crowded communities- tenement owners tried to squeeze in as many people as they could into their tenements and workers couldn't disagree because high demand
-tenements = small/cramped- windowless rooms, little plumbing/central heating, multiple people-even families- living together
- increase in spread of disease, fires, crime, air pollution
- lack of sewer systems, fire departments, police departments
-increased for some because of new materials and products being manufactured.
- those that became extremely wealthy from Industrialization (owned entire industries like steel and oil) owned avenues and large mansions- grand art collections and furniture, etc
- those well-to-do were able to own houses on the edges of the city (in the suburbs places more reserved from, but still connected to, the cities)
- also those that were well-to-do could easily build houses because of availability of cheap labor and tools and materials
Class Structure:
-some men used vertical or horizontal integration to create monopolies that earned millions
-this led to a few men, called “captains of industry”, controlling much of america’s wealth
-Andrew Carnegie(steel) and John D. Rockefeller(oil)
-the emergence of small businesses owners led to a distinct middle class
-skilled workers often rose to the middle class as well
-increase in “white collar” jobs such as business people, shopkeepers, bank clerks, and
merchants
-as the industrial revolution grew, the businessmen became even more powerful
-reform movements in the late nineteenth century to reduce poverty and improve society
-settlement houses to help adjust poor immigrants to life in america
-farmers struggled during this time period, especially because of the lack of currency
-the wave of immigrants flowing into the country (and often directly to the cities) greatly contributed to the growing lower class of the extremely impoverished
-abundant work force led to low wages in factories
-the depression of 1873 also forced many into poverty
-very large wealth gap between the impoverished and the rich
Class Distinctions:
-with the incorporation of parks and the beautification of public areas, class distinctions were slightly lessened.
-all classes could enjoy luxuries such as gardens and entertainment
-Industrialization led to expansion of markets which led to a rising income for upper class and more prosperity for middle class
-"white collar" job salaries increased by about 1/3
- industry owners like Andrew Carnegie and Rockefeller made fortunes
-led to increase in consumerism- new mass market of affordable products
- people became more concerned with personal style
-upper class was extremely wealthy and showed off wealth through the purchase of
consumer goods
- mass production of tin cans and packaging
-led to different way of how Americans bought goods
- chain stores and department developed
- Mail-order catalogues
-lower class lived in poverty and horrible living conditions
Natasha, Laurel, Lauren, and Weston
Explanation of prompt: how did industrialization change american life
-industrialization is a key theme throughout this unit and it greatly affected the social
status of all americans
Key Terms: Urbanization, Industrialization, immigration, ethnic diversity, tenements, monopoly
Relevant dates: second wave of immigration- started in 1890's
panic of 1873
urbanization throughout late nineteenth century
Introduction:
-the end of slavery (loss of free labor) and the rapid expansion of technology led to the second wave of industrialization in america
-the improvements in transportation, such as the transcontinental railroad, and the development of the railroad industry made industrialization possible
Thesis: As a result of industrialization, the general standard of living increased, but the wealth gap widened, leading to clear distinctions between the upper and lower classes.
Standard of living:
-Although the standard of living improved for the rich, a significant portion of the population lived in extreme poverty and extraordinary squalor.
-Industrialization created more jobs for the abundance of workers from the second wave of immigration and for people that left their agricultural communities for the cities- increase in urbanization led to low wages and too little space for too many people
- overpopulated and crowded communities- tenement owners tried to squeeze in as many people as they could into their tenements and workers couldn't disagree because high demand
-tenements = small/cramped- windowless rooms, little plumbing/central heating, multiple people-even families- living together
- increase in spread of disease, fires, crime, air pollution
- lack of sewer systems, fire departments, police departments
-increased for some because of new materials and products being manufactured.
- those that became extremely wealthy from Industrialization (owned entire industries like steel and oil) owned avenues and large mansions- grand art collections and furniture, etc
- those well-to-do were able to own houses on the edges of the city (in the suburbs places more reserved from, but still connected to, the cities)
- also those that were well-to-do could easily build houses because of availability of cheap labor and tools and materials
Class Structure:
-some men used vertical or horizontal integration to create monopolies that earned millions
-this led to a few men, called “captains of industry”, controlling much of america’s wealth
-Andrew Carnegie(steel) and John D. Rockefeller(oil)
-the emergence of small businesses owners led to a distinct middle class
-skilled workers often rose to the middle class as well
-increase in “white collar” jobs such as business people, shopkeepers, bank clerks, and
merchants
-as the industrial revolution grew, the businessmen became even more powerful
-reform movements in the late nineteenth century to reduce poverty and improve society
-settlement houses to help adjust poor immigrants to life in america
-farmers struggled during this time period, especially because of the lack of currency
-the wave of immigrants flowing into the country (and often directly to the cities) greatly contributed to the growing lower class of the extremely impoverished
-abundant work force led to low wages in factories
-the depression of 1873 also forced many into poverty
-very large wealth gap between the impoverished and the rich
Class Distinctions:
-with the incorporation of parks and the beautification of public areas, class distinctions were slightly lessened.
-all classes could enjoy luxuries such as gardens and entertainment
-Industrialization led to expansion of markets which led to a rising income for upper class and more prosperity for middle class
-"white collar" job salaries increased by about 1/3
- industry owners like Andrew Carnegie and Rockefeller made fortunes
-led to increase in consumerism- new mass market of affordable products
- people became more concerned with personal style
-upper class was extremely wealthy and showed off wealth through the purchase of
consumer goods
- mass production of tin cans and packaging
-led to different way of how Americans bought goods
- chain stores and department developed
- Mail-order catalogues
-lower class lived in poverty and horrible living conditions
Natasha, Laurel, Lauren, and Weston