The industrial age was revolutionary for the classes of American society. Many inventions reduced the time and money needed to create goods, as well as reducing the necessity of skill to have a job. Efficiency and accessibility caused the United States economy to soar. The shift of the United States economy from agrarian to industrial helped to create opportunities for the working class, middle class, and upper class. Despite controversy, the industrial age involved more economic opportunities for all Americans.
First, the lower class entered the workforce because the new technologies of the industrial age. With Eli Whitney’s creation of the system of interchangeable parts, poor and unskilled workers were able to work as part of an assembly …show more content…
The middle class was created during the industrial revolution, and evolved from the skilled artisans of the agrarian age. The middle class consisted of skilled professionals. The commodities which were newly accessible to professionals were available because of standardization and the modern assembly line. The creation of the modern assembly line and standardization helped to make it easier for the middle class to live and grow. The access to standardized commodities caused more consumerism during the industrial age. More consumerism further grew the United States economy and thus the middle class. “The expanding economy gave Americans more spending money for these products [common appliances], as well as for restaurants, beauty salons, and movie theaters.” (Norton 654)The middle class grew and benefited from the effectiveness of the working class assembly line and corporate standardization, which created wealth for the middle class to spend on its own professional businesses. The opportunity for a consumer based economy during the agrarian age helped to grow the middle class, as well as other social …show more content…
The middle class did not want the upper class to have monopolistic control which was anti-competitive. ‘Business leaders used corporate consolidation to minimize competition.’ (Norton 510) The anti competitive behavior of the upper class made it possible for price fixing, which caused the middle class to suffer from unreasonably high prices and fewer options. Subsequently, the Sherman Antitrust Act was passed, which outlawed anti-competitive behavior. The struggle to employ the Sherman Antitrust Act exemplified how companies had a hold on the US government and the people of the United States (Norton 511) and depicted the conflict between the upper and middle classes. Conflict involving anti-competitive behavior impacted both the middle and upper class. In conclusion, all Americans had opportunity to succeed during the industrial age, despite conflicts. The lower class was able to enter the workforce, the middle class was to buy standardized products for less, and the upper class was able to produce more products for less, maximizing profits. The industrial age involved opportunity for Americans than previous
First, the lower class entered the workforce because the new technologies of the industrial age. With Eli Whitney’s creation of the system of interchangeable parts, poor and unskilled workers were able to work as part of an assembly …show more content…
The middle class was created during the industrial revolution, and evolved from the skilled artisans of the agrarian age. The middle class consisted of skilled professionals. The commodities which were newly accessible to professionals were available because of standardization and the modern assembly line. The creation of the modern assembly line and standardization helped to make it easier for the middle class to live and grow. The access to standardized commodities caused more consumerism during the industrial age. More consumerism further grew the United States economy and thus the middle class. “The expanding economy gave Americans more spending money for these products [common appliances], as well as for restaurants, beauty salons, and movie theaters.” (Norton 654)The middle class grew and benefited from the effectiveness of the working class assembly line and corporate standardization, which created wealth for the middle class to spend on its own professional businesses. The opportunity for a consumer based economy during the agrarian age helped to grow the middle class, as well as other social …show more content…
The middle class did not want the upper class to have monopolistic control which was anti-competitive. ‘Business leaders used corporate consolidation to minimize competition.’ (Norton 510) The anti competitive behavior of the upper class made it possible for price fixing, which caused the middle class to suffer from unreasonably high prices and fewer options. Subsequently, the Sherman Antitrust Act was passed, which outlawed anti-competitive behavior. The struggle to employ the Sherman Antitrust Act exemplified how companies had a hold on the US government and the people of the United States (Norton 511) and depicted the conflict between the upper and middle classes. Conflict involving anti-competitive behavior impacted both the middle and upper class. In conclusion, all Americans had opportunity to succeed during the industrial age, despite conflicts. The lower class was able to enter the workforce, the middle class was to buy standardized products for less, and the upper class was able to produce more products for less, maximizing profits. The industrial age involved opportunity for Americans than previous