Impact Of Industrialization On American Society

The Industrialization Era and American Society
During the times between the end of the Civil War and World War I (WWI), industrialization had evolved to great extents, transforming the once agrarian American society to one that would rapidly move toward the manufacturing of goods. For many, this would entail more luxury and comfort, but for others, the less fortunate, perhaps a glimpse of hope for a better future than they left behind. This tremendous change in technological advancement would bring about many negative and positive consequences that would over time promote the evolution of the economic, social, and political lives of the American people, more specifically the unskilled worker, former slaves, immigrants, and women.
The economic
Social injustices in the workplace, discrimination, and alcoholism would be factors facing the lower class. Yet, similar social injustices faced the factory workers and the railroad employees, the business owners had no regard for the workers; that said they were only interested in making a profit. The long working hours without breaks, caused many to suffer from extreme fatigue, which led to illness vulnerabilities, injuries, loss of wages, and loss of lives. These harsh working conditions led to a series of upheavals in efforts to bring about positive change. “The Pullman Strike” of 1894, is an example of such failed attempt for negotiating the inhumane tactics that wealthy business owners inflicted on their workers, such as low wages, long working hours, and high rents on the dwelling owned by the same businesses and factories. Additionally, discrimination, based on race, color, gender, and economic status was another issue that predominated the urban areas. African American southerners soon found that the burdens of racial segregation and discrimination in the South had not stayed behind. Encouraged and motivated by the black leaders of that time, they sought better wages, educational opportunities, and their right to vote in the cities. Booker T.Washington, a black leader of that time, gave a motivational speech at the Cotton States and International Exposition on September 18, 1895, in which he promoted the idea of a gradual change in incorporating African Americans to the education and economic system. Moreover, gender inequality was another discriminatory issue that affected the status of women as productive citizens in society. In short, women worked the same jobs as men, but received lower wages; additionally, they had not attained the right to vote. Nonetheless,