Effects Of Industrialization On American Life

Industrialization changed and helped shape American Life and society for the better. It changed it in many ways as far as economic, social, and landscape ways. Industrialization focuses and revolves around the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution will be driven by capital and the creation of the modern corporation. One of the most important ways it helps change American Life and society was the creation of the Railroads. Capital primarily came from the investments of railroads. Railroads helped change American Life economically and socially. Railroads became the first major economic spending after the civil war. Then there was a rapid expansion of railroads, by 1860 it went from 30,000 miles to 193,000 by 1900. These railroads …show more content…
Many of these rails were owned by large men because the rail lines were bankrupted and a lot cheaper therefore you see the fast building of rail lines under these owners. Because of this some of the owners became very wealthy. One was Cornelius Vanderbilt, and he gains and becomes one of the richest men in America. These rails would end up making him expand money, which is money that could be used as capital and be put into investments. These rail lines would help expand consumption, and help bring goods to people to people who live along these lines. They would also send goods back east. This helps expand the American economy. The consumer nation is born during this time which helps people send things off from all around the nation to expand the market. Railroads would also set time zones and standardize time for the very first time. Most Americans had no idea in the world what time it was. They only knew sun up, sun down, and could care less about a clock. The railroads would set the nation into four different time zones and push for everyone to have a time centered lifestyle. For example, if a railroad does not make it on time, it means it probably crashed. So, they needed the rails to run on time and for people to be on time. This time centered lifestyle was hard and many Americans had a rough time trying to adjust to it. This caused a change in lifestyle and perspective for everyone. The country would move away from a work ethic to more of a to a time and leisure ethic. There was a puritan work ethic and it was a part of being godly that you work hard and show it. You work for yourself, and your benefit and for God’s benefit. Soon workers would not feel that urge to do that anymore. They would question themselves that are they really working for god if they working in a factory with crazy work hours and maybe only one day off a week. They did not