In the end, the American Industrial Revolution benefited the United States more than it harmed it. It made the U.S. into arguably the strongest world power, the overall standard of living was improved and a great many technological innovations were implemented during this time. Its causes; the railroads, technological innovations such as the Bessemer open-hearth process, and an influx of job-seeking immigrants.
By the end of the Industrial Revolution, America ranked among the strongest of the world powers. Some could argue that this power came at too high a price, that the country was irrevocably changed and not for the better; with poverty rampant in the streets and the monopolists controlling the country's wealth. "Before 1790, nearly all goods were hand manufactured in homes and small shops. Now that the industrial cat was out of the bag new inventions would quickly follow that would transform America from a backwoods ex-colony to an industrial superpower." (from the "Samuel Slater Stole The Industrial Revolution" tab). The sheer amount of natural resources the U.S. had, whether it be raw materials or manpower, were enough to secure its place at the top for decades to come.
The national standard of living was much improved by the rise of industrialism. In 1870, the infant mortality rate was 170 for 1000 infants. In 1910, it was 117 for 1000 (Document set 3, Statistics on Industrial Growth). Advances in medicine and hygiene improved many facets of life, and industrialism permitted the rapid distribution of many new inventions. Over the course of the Industrial Revolution, the daily lives of American were much simplified and improved by these innovations.
By the end of the Industrial Revolution, America ranked among the strongest of the world powers. Some could argue that this power came at too high a price, that the country was irrevocably changed and not for the better; with poverty rampant in the streets and the monopolists controlling the country's wealth. "Before 1790, nearly all goods were hand manufactured in homes and small shops. Now that the industrial cat was out of the bag new inventions would quickly follow that would transform America from a backwoods ex-colony to an industrial superpower." (from the "Samuel Slater Stole The Industrial Revolution" tab). The sheer amount of natural resources the U.S. had, whether it be raw materials or manpower, were enough to secure its place at the top for decades to come.
The national standard of living was much improved by the rise of industrialism. In 1870, the infant mortality rate was 170 for 1000 infants. In 1910, it was 117 for 1000 (Document set 3, Statistics on Industrial Growth). Advances in medicine and hygiene improved many facets of life, and industrialism permitted the rapid distribution of many new inventions. Over the course of the Industrial Revolution, the daily lives of American were much simplified and improved by these innovations.
The Industrial Revolution was a time of innovation, and of great inventors. From 1850-59, 19,591 patents were issued. In 1890-99, 221,277 were issued. By the 1990s, there were 1,119,220 (Class Notes, U.S. Patents Granted). Some of these numerous inventions forever and irrevocably changed the American way of life: the telephone (Bell, 1876), the phonograph (Edison, 1877), the light bulb (patented by Edison), the Ford automobile and the airplane (Wright brothers, 1903) are some of the most important. Without them, America would
