The Role Of Technology In The 1800s

Nearing the end of the Civil war and the beginning of the twentieth century the United States went through an economic revolution. During this time there was abundant natural resources, a growing supply of labor, and expanding market for manufactured goods. Because of all abundances the federal government encouraged the expansion of the railroads. This would benefit the United States economically. The Railroads were so important because it made the “second industrial revolution” possible. In 1913 the United States was producing a major amount of the world’s output. Which is more than Great Britain, France, and germany combined.

In the early 19th century rural worker produced their own goods and were very self sufficient. Farm families grew their own crops and raised their own animals and made their own clothing, candles, and soap. They would sell those products at markets for money to buy certain products that couldn't be produced on their own. By the middle of the 19th century, America, especially in the Northeast, became more industrialized. This spurred on a Market Revolution. People were buying and selling goods instead of making it for personal use. This caused big changes in not only the US economy, but in the daily lives of Americans. The incomes of everyday Americans rose as goods and services grew. Inventions such as the textile mill and interchangeable parts played a huge role in the improvements and growth of factories in the North. Interchangeable parts allowed mass production and strengthened industry. With the Market Revolution came an Economic Revolution. This impacted communication as well as transportation. The telegraph, invented in 1837, allowed instantaneous communication and railroads allowed safe, reliable, and quick transportation. Water transportation, such as steamboats and canals, made it easier to move heavy machinery and raw materials. The building of canals and railroads required a large amount of workers. The labor demand grew which caused many immigrants to come to America for new opportunities to make a living. The investment in canals and railroads also turned the Northeast into the center of commerce in America, and after opening the Eerie Canal, New York City became the main link between agriculture in America and European markets. The improvements in transportation and communication aided in allowing Americans in different regions to keep in touch in addition to creating interdependencies and markets.

The 1800’s in the United States came with many improvements to the economic and social environment. Through the advancements in technology, life was advanced for the better, and a huge factor that contributed to it was transportation. The establishment of canals, railroads, and roads made traveling far easier and appealing than ever. The vast improvement of transportation changed things like social and economic systems forever and order would never be the same. Economics was highly affected by the revival of the transportation system.

The 1800’s revolutionized the county that we know today. With states splitting opinions on slaves and being free, the north and south had drastically divided styles of workforces. The demand for more manufactured goods skyrocketed resulting in an explosion of factories and mills. Products of the north and south required supplies and shipping routes, transportation infrastructure was carved through the countryside to meet these demands. The country had entered a new mindset, and a new era.

The time period largely known as the "Gilded Age" was centered around big business which caused sharp economic and social class divisions as well as political corruption that led Americans to progressive reform. From the ashes of the Civil War, a second industrial revolution was born which ushered in new innovations and technological advances that drastically changed American life. As a result, business became powerful and controlling on the economy, created difficult working conditions, and influenced politics through manipulation and corruption. Americans poured into the country at a outstanding rate during the "Gilded Age", creating a supply of workers for the various jobs opportunities all over the country. The railroad was one of the biggest innovations in the late 19th century.

After the construction of the railroad, more and more cargo was given the opportunity to be shipped between states. Raw materials from the newly found land in the West were able to be quickly shipped to the East. This change helped the states ship over 50 million dollars worth of cargo between each other in the first ten years after construction. The railroad allowed the Eastern states and Western States exchange goods easily and efficiently. Shipping between states was now easier and cheaper than ever before causing commerce to increase rapidly. Farms began to pop up along the railroad. The goods manufactured at these farms were easily distributed because of the transcontinental railroad. Markets were extended because of the railroad construction. More people wanted to start new businesses because they saw opportunities with the railroad and how much easier it was to sell and ship goods. Items that were once scarce and hard to buy were now greatly manufactured and simple to purchase and receive. The transcontinental railroad also expanded the area as to where items can be shipped to. Items were once only able to be sold locally, but since the railroad helped create an outlet for more products, commerce extended majorly. The now larger market made manufactured goods more convenient to buy which increased

Furthermore, because of the growth of railroads businesses grew much faster allowing goods such as cloth to be

Transportation in the United States has changed dramatically in the past few hundred years, from dirt roads, to canals, to railroads, and back to roads to again. Improvements in transportation between the years 1820 and 1860 allowed for almost all of America to be accessible which caused the US economy to explode. Transportation turned the U.S. into a flourishing economy and caused a large increase in sectionalism, industrialization, and expansion.

The late nineteenth century of America was marked by a period of rapid territorial expansion and new urbanization. With innovations such as the telegraph and telephone, companies and businesses were instantly able to communicate across the country and the Atlantic Ocean. By the 1890’s, the five transcontinental railroad lines made it possible for factories and farmers to ship their products all over the United States. America was a leading nation for industrial output, surpassing nations like Great Britain, France and Germany. Due to the rise of factories and railroad demand, two thirds of Americans worked for wages instead of working on a farm, owning a business, or a craft shop.

The technological advancement of transportation through the creation of the railroad system had a revolutionary impact upon America as a nation. Trains was the primary way to travel at this time, but the creation of the transcontinental railroad in 1869 would have greater impacts than anyone could have imagined. This railroad was extremely unique because it was the first time a person could travel to the west coast from the east coast in one trip. It played a big part in unifying the North and South, helped the economy boom, and transformed America into the most industrialized country in the world. The nation received huge benefits from this new railroad system, as industry was able to boom all throughout the nation. A system of interdependence

The process of manufacturing all the natural resources that were brought by the railroads from the west was to be done by immigrants that would accept cheap labor, this process was called industrialization. Companies arise to the world of society, many of those companies own factories that manufactured and made useful natural resources. Also technology starts to play an important role in American life and on the future meaning that technological companies surged. All this manufacturing made by the factories that were owned by the companies promoted a general advancement.

By the middle of the 19th century, the Industrial Revolution was changing the face and culture of the United States. Demand for raw materials and new inventions was increasing. From 1800-1850, territories claimed by the United States had grown to stretch from the East Coast to the West Coast. The spirit of “Manifest Destiny”, the California Gold Rush, and the promise of rich new land, ripe with raw materials and opportunity drew settlers ever westward. Following the invention of the steam engine, trains were becoming very important to the expansion of civilization and its infrastructure. Trains and the railroads they ran on soon became the lifeblood of industrialized economic development across the country. Public and private partnerships were formed with railroad companies to provide them with vast amounts of investment funding. Within a few decades, the railroad companies and their transcontinental railroads ushered in the Gilded Age and changed American society forever.

During the late 1700’s, the United States was no longer a possession of Britain, instead it was a market for industrial goods and the world’s major source for tobacco, cotton, and other agricultural products. A labor revolution started to occur in the United States throughout the early 1800’s. There was a shift from an agricultural economy to an industrial market system. After the War of 1812, the domestic marketplace changed due to the strong pressure of social and economic forces. Major innovations in transportation allowed the movement of information, people, and merchandise. Textile mills and factories became an important base for jobs, especially for women. There was also widespread economic growth during this time period

The end of the Civil War marked a new integration of industry into American society. Following the war, high tariffs were put in place to compensate for the national debt that were created. The increase in tariffs also promoted domestic industries which became more critical in America. A major shift can be seen during this time, known as the Gilded Age, toward a more industrialized society rather than an agricultural one. One major influence toward this industrialized society was the building of the transcontinental railroad which ran from East to West coast. Finished in 1869, the Railroad allowed for more transport which also benefited the rising of big businesses. Regional companies could become national companies and thus changed the way people looked at industrialization. This industrialization affected the working class the most which consisted of the industrial workers and farmers. One would think that the “Gilded Age” would mean prosperity would be felt throughout the economy but the elite 1% of the population had more money than the rest of the population combined. This did not sit well with the working class, especially the industrial workers, who were the ones making the profit for the elites. However, each the farmers and industrial workers had their own way in which they responded to the industrialization of the Gilded Age.

Most explanations of the reasons for the rapid growth of business outline three main factors. First, it is the shift from water-powered to coal-powered factories, which enabled manufacturers to locate their plants nearer to markets and suppliers. The new technology also allowed producing bigger quantities of goods at a lower price, while the quality has also risen significantly. Second, the transportation improvements allowed firms to distribute their products to regional or national markets. A great role here was played by the development of railroad. Instead of only being able to ship goods to a local and regional market, railroads now made it possible for companies to ship and sell their goods outside traditional local markets. But even though the railroad now made it possible for the companies to sell their products to other regions, they had now to find a way of paying for shipping and still being able to reach Break-even point and compete with other regional companies. Third reason is the development of new financial institutions, such as the stock market, commercial banks, and investment houses, which increased