The American Industrial Revolution was caused by the expansion of the transcontinental railroad, and rate of immigration to the U.S. The American industrial revolution did more harm than good due to the wealth gap, unfair working conditions and horrible living conditions in urban environments.
The American industrial revolution did more harm than good because of the wealth gap. According to the wealthy, it was everybody's duty to be rich, and it was your own fault for not working hard enough to get to that point. Henry George in Progress and Poverty 1879 states, "It was as though an immense wedge were being forced, not underneath society but through society. Those who are above the point of seperation are elevated, but those who are below are crushed down." This quote shows how the wealth gap effected both the rich and the poor during that time. The wealth gap prevented the poor from becoming wealthy; making becoming rich unattainable.
The American industrial revolution included other unfair aspects including unfair working conditions. According to the Triangle Factory Fire movie, the workers did not have a bathroom/drink break, and they worked 14 hours for $2 a day. These workers' workplace was very unpleasant and sometimes brutal. Factory workers were taken advantage of in terms of pay and were often require to pay for the machines they used at work.
The American industrial revolution unfortunately included horrible living conditions in urban environments, such as the newly highly populated cities. In the Jacob Riis video, "How the Other Half Lives", New York citizens are shown living in dirty alleys and disease filled tenements. The tenements were highly occupied with families and were often with out lights. These building usually had few sinks and toilets and sometimes completely lacked running water and plumbing.
The American industrial revolution did more harm than good because of the wealth gap. According to the wealthy, it was everybody's duty to be rich, and it was your own fault for not working hard enough to get to that point. Henry George in Progress and Poverty 1879 states, "It was as though an immense wedge were being forced, not underneath society but through society. Those who are above the point of seperation are elevated, but those who are below are crushed down." This quote shows how the wealth gap effected both the rich and the poor during that time. The wealth gap prevented the poor from becoming wealthy; making becoming rich unattainable.
The American industrial revolution included other unfair aspects including unfair working conditions. According to the Triangle Factory Fire movie, the workers did not have a bathroom/drink break, and they worked 14 hours for $2 a day. These workers' workplace was very unpleasant and sometimes brutal. Factory workers were taken advantage of in terms of pay and were often require to pay for the machines they used at work.
The American industrial revolution unfortunately included horrible living conditions in urban environments, such as the newly highly populated cities. In the Jacob Riis video, "How the Other Half Lives", New York citizens are shown living in dirty alleys and disease filled tenements. The tenements were highly occupied with families and were often with out lights. These building usually had few sinks and toilets and sometimes completely lacked running water and plumbing.
