P O P U L A T I O N G R O W T HI N D U S T R I A L E M P L O Y M E N T

U R B A N G R O W T HP O L I T I C A L , E C O N O M I C & S O C I A L C H A N G E S

N A T I O N A L S E L F - C O N F I D E N C E

AMERICA’S INDUSTRIAL AGE: AN INTRO

1865-1909

POPULATION SHIFTS

• US was primarily rural at the onset of the Civil War• By 1900, US was an industrial country• Americans continued to move westward to set up

new lives, farms and trade• By 1900, more Americans were moving to cities

than the countryside• Economic and technical change encouraged rapid

industrialization

INDUSTRIALIZATION & URBANIZATION

• Transcontinental railroads linked eastern and western regions of the United States

• New towns grew along railroad lines• New industries (oil and steel) grew to dominate American

industry• Americans moved to the cities lured by hopes of steady

employment • Push and Pull factors in Europe influenced large numbers of

immigrants to seek new opportunities in the U.S. • Contemporary Example (one of many):

Immigrant’s Changing Iowa’s Cities• By 1900, American industry lagged only behind Great

Britain in production

THE AMERICAN SPIRIT• American individualism was rooted in 17th century values:• The Western frontier was paved by Americans who were rugged,

unafraid people, inspired by hope and willing to sacrifice comforts for new lives

• Economic and political change created government assistance where it was once seen as a last bastion of individualism• Federal troops were dispatched to protect American interests

against Native Americans• Government agencies were created to regulate business practices• Reformers grew increasingly more demanding for government

regulation of private industries• As cities grew, so did the need for government assistance in

housing, transportation, schools, hospitals, fire and police protection

SOCIAL & POLITICAL CHANGE

• The gap between rich and poor widened• Labor first galvanized during this time period• Unions formed to demand better conditions and fairer

wages• Small farmers were squeezed by debt, foreign

competition and demanded land-price regulations• Anti-immigrant groups became more prominent • Corporate and individual corruption became the

normalcy• Populist party was formed as a movement against

the power of Wall Street, big banks and big business

RACIAL INJUSTICE

• Indians were forcibly moved from lands• U.S. won the Indian Wars and the Native population

struggled to hold on to their shattered cultures• The South remained relatively untouched by the

Industrial Revolution• Majority of industry still resided up North and out West• Slaves were freed, but southern governments

implemented Black Codes to limit the movement and rights of Africa-Americans• Later known as Jim Crow Laws

• Segregation of public facilities remained common-place until the 1960s and 1970s

NATIONAL SELF-CONFIDENCE OF A MODERN INDUSTRIAL STATE

• Wealth and power created a new sense of self-confidence in the American way of life• Desire for overseas expansion increased during

this age• US liberated Cuba from Spanish rule, seized

control of the Philippines, increased its economic hold on Latin America• Debate about American purpose, responsibilities

and strength was debated then, just as it is now