I think the Industrial Revolution changed things forever. It was a turning point in the U.S. It changed living and working conditions, urbanization, child labor, public health, working class family life, the role of women, the emerging middle class, and economic growth and income. It created an interdependent economic life and made workers reliant on their employers. Laissez-faire doctrines were developed to maximize the use of new facilities. The Industrial Revolution brought the need for government intervention to help protect workers and dramatically changed the nature of production. Machines replaced tools, steam and other energy sources replaced human or animal power, skilled workers were replaced with unskilled workers. The Industrial
