The Response to
Industrialism
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By Samuel P. Hays
A report on the novel,
By Chelsey Hackney
As technology began improving, this opened new doors to the industrialists. This, in turn, eventually leads to economic developments. A fine example of an industrial innovation was the railroad. And though it had more than 250,000 miles of track laid in the United States, it only became greatly proficient in the 1830’s. Before then, the steamboat was the popular choice of transportation for goods and travel. This is why you’ll see a lot of the larger cities nowadays based near a river. It was the easiest form of transport.But in the 1860’s, the first Transcontinental Railroad was completed, finally linking the east coast to the west coast. This was made possible because the railroad reduced transportation time and cost, therefore allowing the migration. Railroads increased the accessibility of goods to consumers, which allowed capital and individuals to flow westward as well. Railroads led to the creation of national markets characterized by the “law of one price”. This lowered the difference in price charged for commodity between suppliers and demanders. Social savings were increased by the railroad making the railroad the largest contributor to the economy of any innovation before 1900. Though many lost confidence in the railroads due to the depressions of 1873, 1884, and 1893, the railroad still proved worthy during the time of industrialism.
Railroads definitely affected the factories of the big-booming cities as well. Once there were quicker ways to transport goods to and from factories, they could focus more on innovating mass production. Once manufacturers noticed the profit coming in from factories, they developed investment bankers, stockbrokers, and bonds. Corporations formed and these corporations depended on stockholders and the expanse of their resources.
This is when corruption came about among the different industries. Competition arose between the businesses and it then became a cut throat way of life. Alliances were made along with agreements to drive out and annihilate competition. This entailed unstable prices of products, as well. New Jersey took notice of all this and tried to fix it by passing incorporation acts. These acts helped markets develop holding companies…leading to the merging of corporations and companies without corrupting the market. While this was happening, the railroads companies were charging unstable prices. Mostly lower rates for only certain companies. Many did not respond well to this and protested how the rates were, once again, corrupt and unfair. This was when Congress created the Interstate Commerce Commission. And although, at the time, it was ruled by the Supreme Court that Congress could not set the railroad rates, just state the obvious…that they were unfair and biased. In 1906 this changed and Congress passed the Hepburn Act allowing them to replace the rates with their own.
Once again, the transportation the railroads provide comes into play and benefits the many regions that supply raw materials to the factories in the cities. Geographically, most of the factories are set up north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi. The regions that produced certain materials really used it to their advantaged. The main supplier of lumber, for example, was the northeast/Great Lakes area. Coal becomes one of the main power sources for railroads, heaters, and many other mechanisms requiring power by coal. Pennsylvania was where a lot of coal was found. Waterpower is also an example of energy use to power things. Water power was mostly used in the seaport cities. Iron, steel, and textile mills also pop up everywhere, mostly on the east coast. The fact that each of these regions and areas dominate a certain good or material leads to open trade among all of the states.
The east and west also had to coincide and work together to supply each other. Goods from the west would be brought to the east to be manufactured and then the products would be shipped right back over the west and even the south as well. The cities on the east coast somewhat depended on the goods provided by the west to survive and prosper.
Society:
The west opened so many doors for people. Some families whose land was bought out by factories and government for further development looked to the west for a new start. This became possible with new and improved transportation.
The “American Dream” was the desire in every immigrant’s hearts. Millions of immigrants fled to America to escape the war and poverty in their old countries, yet once they reached Ellis Island, they didn’t find much better. These immigrants were looking to buy their own farmland and set up a well established and stable home life and family but most of them never got past the city limits. Ghettoes and villages were set up in the city pertaining to one’s certain heritage. There were Irish ghettoes, Italian, and even German ones, too. The tenets in which they lived were cramped, falling apart and ranked of disease from animals and feces. They got jobs in factories, but it was always the lowest of low with long hours and minimal pay. The Irish especially got the short end of the stick. They were thought of as lazy drunks so the only jobs they got were the ones no one else would apply for. Signs often hung at factories and stores reading “Help Wanted. No Irish need apply.” The clash of cultures was anything but unnoticeable. While most people looked at Sabbath as a day of worship, the Germans would kick back on that day and just drink. This is when towns and cities created Blue Laws, restricting any activities on Sundays.
As more education became available, more people began to question the Bible and its preachings. Sundays and church services were no longer somber and silently grateful but loud, rowdy revival meetings contemplating both Women’s Rights and Black’s Rights. They praised and found spirit with loud singing and gospel. These new denominations appealed greatly to the masses. Religion now offered a wider margin for salvation. God was thought of in a different light, now.
Now the cities had more luxuries and leisure as well. Cities had entertainment such as bars, saloons, the theatre, and opera house open versus the rural town which had the occasional county fair or some small-town get together with fireworks.
Political Parties against* Corruption*:
In the late 1890’s the Populist or People Party was formed. This was supposedly the party for the common man. The Populist Party was formed from the resulting group of the Panic of 1873, the Farmers’ Alliance. By the 80’s, the Alliance had formed a political agenda. This agenda called for regulation and reform in national politics, most notably an opposition to the gold standard to counter the deflation in agricultural prices. The drive to create this new party arose from the refusal of both Republican and Democratic parties to promote the advocacies of the Alliance. The Populist Party was formed in 1889-1890, but it really took off in 1892 when they held nominations for national election candidates. The party’s platform called for the abolition of national banks, a graduated income tax, direct election of Senators, civil service reform, a working day of eight hours and Government control of all railroads, telegraphs, and telephones. Ultimately, this party was formed in opposition to the corruption the big businesses has on economy, prices, and inflation.
Acts passed by Congress:
Society’s Reaction:
whose steel company helped industrialize railroad transportation. His reaction to industrialism was monopolizing and acquiring wealth. But with his response came another. Further in the book, Carnegie is mentioned when one of his steel plants brought a bloody clash between strikers and Pinkerton detectives. The reaction brought on by these workers was that of anguish, frustration, and most likely due to the fact that, yes they wanted to make money, but at this time, their pride and dignity was also being drained. Farmers felt forgotten and thrown aside to make room for the big businesses. And the far west was just getting started developing cities.