Block 1
DBQ Essay
The first American Industrial Revolution took place between 1780 and 1860, an event in history that changed the United States dramatically. Prior to the Industrial Revolution, producing material goods was very time-consuming and labor intensive because everything was handmade. Advances technology, however, allowed for manufacturers to produce large quantities of products within a short period of time. Changes to the way products were made in the factories enabled America to become a wealthy and prosperous country. Although the Industrial Revolution had many impacts on economics and politics in the United States, it ultimately had an incomparably positive impact on society in America.
The construction of the railroads, for example, changed the way goods flowed throughout the United States and neighboring territory. Railroads offered a cost-effective and cost-efficient way to move goods, as well as people, across the country. As stated in document 4, “...the building of transcontinental railroads... tied the nation together from coast to coast.” Connecting the country nationwide allowed the United States to faster travel. In addition to the new modes of trainsportation, the invention of the telegraph was also a factor that affected the United States during the years of the Industrial Revolution. In document 6, it says, “...[The telegraph] became a necessity for companies doing business across long distances.” Making the telegraph vital for everyday business contributed to the everyday political life of America. Through the transportation and communication inventions, America’s politicians started to become more reliant on the quickened speed of travel and communication.
Inventions and technology fueled the Industrial Revolution in the United States economically as well. The Cotton Gin had a huge impact on the United States. According to document 3, the cotton gin vastly reduced the labor time needed to get