Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Industrialization in America
Industrialization began to show in America during the 1790's. The use of the outwork system(division of labor) and modern factories used new and improved technology to increase the output of goods exponentially. With improved technology factories were finally able to produce metal goods and parts, such as reaping machines for farms and guns. The British government limited the export of new machinery and the emigration of those who knew how to build it after the country's manufacturers began to worry about American competition. Lured by money and offers of partnerships mechanics made their way to America to help create a more advanced machines. Although America had more natural resources, Britain still had a larger population overall and that was concentrated in cities. To rectuit more workers Americans had to create stratigies to find more workers. One such idea was the "Waltham plan" that brought thousands of farm women and girls into the textile work force. By the 1820s American mechanics were on the rise following in British immigrants footsteps creating multiple machines to produce better goods, faster. They also pioneered the development of machines that could make other machines. The increase in factory work, although boosting the economy, created problems for artisans who lost business and faced unemployment and the loss of status. More and more Americans were forced to take jobs as wageworkers, workers who toiled for twelve or more hours a day for little pay. Unions brought thousands of workers together who faught for better working conditions.
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The industrialization during the early 19th century began to show the US's strengths in society. We began with inventing new machinery for textiles, cotton production, and much more. One problem with this industrialization era was how it put a lot of people and families out of work cause many hardships and struggles for individuals. Many artisians lost business. The Waltham plan was created which brought in farm women into the factories for work which allowed business men to give them low wages and give them work until they married where they left the business which allowed more women for cheap wages to come into the factory allowing more money for business men. Many unions were established because of these long difficult days with low wages and eventually were able to help get their demands with better hours and working conditions.
The outwork system was great for the big picture, for the economy. But it sucked for the workers and little business guys because more workers became wage-workers and didn't make enough money, and more little business guys lost their jobs because the new, big factories way of producing goods was faster and more dinero-efficient.
This reminds me of stores like Costco and Sam's compared to family owned grocery stores, or little drug stores compared to Walgreens or CVS. The little business owners lose because people want to buy things in bulk because it's more time efficient (saves time from coming back to the store more often to stock up on items) and more money effient (b/c people are getting more for a better deal.)
Americans are always looking for a way to do things better. This started happening in the 1790's, and even before then, and is still happening today. There's always room for improvement, right? But like the artisans, families who own drug stores lose business. And that makes me feel bad for them and want to give them my business.
And last thing is the cities. In Britain many lived in the cities where the manufacturing and jobs were, and in America we start to see this happen, too. This happens primarily in the North where the cities are and where all the manufacturing takes place. Cities are even rising in population in the new mid-west cities of Detroit and Chicago. Instead of becoming similar to Britain in a monarchy-like government, we are becoming similar to them in where a lot of our population is settling (esp. immigrants) because of the availability of jobs.
The idea of a wageworker is pretty sad. Since they were working twelve hour days they hardly ever had time to see their families, get any further education, or have free time to relax. In the mid-1930s many employers reduced the work day to ten hours 6 to 6 but this is still a very long day for getting paid so little.
I agree that a wageworker would be a horrible job. Along with the Waltham plan people would really have a hard time, however for business men both of these were sort of genious. Since they paid workers so little they could make more profit and getting new women in factories was clever to since they didn't have to offer someone without experience more money. It is a good thing that unions formed and helped protect the workers.
Hooray for the Industrial Revolution somehow advancing women's rights. It sucks that the Waltham Plan utilized women because they could pay them less, but at least it got them out of housework and gave them more independence than ever before. I mean, this step did give women more rights even though compared to today they were in basic slavery.
Industrialization is, in my opinion one of the most influential era's that this country has gone through. I brought so many new opportunities to immigrants that manufacturing companies grew up every where in the north. And women also started to gain some knowledge of new independence in the workforce never seen before.
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