The Industrial Revolution In The Early 1900's

During the Industrial Revolution in the early 1900’s, many new ideas and inventions were developed that helped people in everyday life. The Industrial Revolution was a major turning point in history because now countries such as the United States could become more modern and efficient. One invention developed by James Watt, the steam engine, not only made it possible to transport crops and food to different places, but made it possible for people to get fresh foods because they were transported much quicker. Another helpful invention was the seed drill, invented by Jethro Tull. Also, factories were now able to process and package meat and dairy products that could then be sent out all across the country, which fed the demand of a constantly
The steam engine made it easy for people to be able to travel. It also made it possible for food to be transported from facilities to cities. Due to rapid urbanization, it was required for food to be transported from the producers to the consumers in order to meet the demands of a larger population (Saltveit). Refrigerated train cars helped crops and meats stay fresh while being transported (Liberman). This made crops that seemed like such a delicacy before to become more available to all classes, such as lettuce for salads (Liberman). Also, now that people owned cars and roads were being built, roadside diners became popular for people who needed a not high-end place to eat. This later led to the creation of fast food restaurants (Liberman). Due to the increase in immigrants from other countries caused by the creation of ships and boats, new foods were introduced to America. Europeans introduced many types of meats, which is how the American hot dog came about. Italy brought over pasta, pizza, olive oil, and wine. American’s began to favor bleached white breads over whole grains
The safety of food became a major concern in the 1900’s. Food, milk, and other processed edible goods carried diseases due to poor conditions in the factories. Contaminated food led to illnesses such as typhoid fever, tuberculosis, and botulism, which in some cases were fatal (Liberman). A well known author at the time by the name of Upton Sinclair published a book called The Jungle which exposed the horrors behind the walls of meat packaging facilities. This caused a public uproar because it was an explanation behind why many people were getting sick and dying after eating certain foods. “Public awareness of the problem had been piqued, and in 1906, the first Pure Food and Drug Act was passed” (Liberman page 3). His book not only exposed the unsanitary conditions of the facilities, but also uncovered the poverty and horrible living conditions the workers were faced with (Muckrakers). Due to the exposure of these horrific conditions, improvements in factory sanitation came about in the early 1900’s. “Methods to contain illnesses such as hand washing, improved sanitation, refrigeration, and pasteurization were promoted. As a result, the incidence of typhoid fever decreased from 100 cases per 100,000 in 1900 approximately to 34 per 100,000 in 1920, before the proliferation of vaccines and antibiotics. And in