The Impact of Industrialization After the Civil War

Introduction 

There were a considerable spread and movement of settlement throughout the American continent. A significant increase in population was witnessed across the United States following the conclusion of the Civil War. Most of the growth in the economy that accompanied industrialization became concentrated in the plains, Midwest as well as the northeast states. The impact of industrialization on the southern states was that they largely engaged in agriculture and that was evident when their overall production at the industrial level was found to be about fifty percent less than that of the New York State (Miceli, 2009) 

Thesis Statement 

The end of the Civil War in America was characterized by the emergence of various aspects of industrialization. 

Three Major Aspects of Industrialization 

First Aspect 

Several economic prosperities and downfalls characterized one of the major aspects of industrialization after the Civil War. Particularly, the period towards the end of the eighteenth century marked the growth of the industrial age in America. This aspect is also supported by the introduction of the Gilded era during which the American economy went up and down on various occasions (Miceli, 2009). 

Second Aspect 

The second aspect of industrialization that became evident after the Civil War was that of the nature of politics across the United States. In that regard, the political environment within the United States was largely influenced by the growth in industrialization that took place between the 1960’s and the 1920’s. Major reconstructions took place in the political scene that led to fundamental reforms such as the establishment of citizen’s rights (Smith, 2007). 

Third Aspect 

The societal influence by the existence and growth of industrialization is the third aspect that characterized the aftermath of Civil War in the United States. This influence brought the creation of antimonopoly within the society in the United States. Such groups within the society were majorly concerned with the eradication of oppressions such as social discrimination amongst the social classes in the United States (Miceli, 2009). 

Five Specific Groups that were Affected by Industrialization 

First Group 

One of the groups were immigrants from the eastern and southern Europe whose number increase sharply in the United States as they sought for employments and better living standards after industrialization (Smith, 2007). 

Second Group 

This group included different categories of women. These categories involved both skilled and unskilled women who benefited from the creation of new jobs due to the industrialization growth (Smith, 2007). 

Third Group 

This group comprised various children from vulnerable backgrounds who were turned into laborers following the rise in demand for labor occasioned by industrialization after the Civil War (Smith, 2007). 

Fourth Group 

In this group, there were the Americans who existed in the category of Knights of Labor such as business people and farmers who suffered due to the monopolization of large companies and corporations resulting from industrialization (Smith, 2007). 

Fifth Group 

This group was made up of individuals from different races such as the Latino Americans who were essential from the black race as well as the African Americans whose state of slavery changed after industrialization (Smith, 2007). 

How Industrialization Affected the Average Worker 

First, the living standards and the well-being of the average worker in the United States were enhanced due to the growth in industrialization, which raised the per capita income. Secondly, the introduction of new job opportunities for average workers resulted from industrialization. Workers also became entitled to increments in salaries, remunerations, and wages due to a significant growth in the economy. Besides, the working environment and conditions considerably changed for an average worker in America where most of them became self-employed. Lastly, the movement of the workers within America from the rural areas the cities to get absorbed in job opportunities created by the growth in industrialization (Smith, 2007). 

Conclusion 

In summing up, after the Civil War, various parts across the United States especially the northeastern states came out as the largest contributors of the overall industrializations witnessed across the country in terms of raw material processing and manufacturing. 

References 

Miceli, S. R. (2009). Industrialization and immigration: Labor at the river's bend . University of Toledo. 

Smith, R. W. (2007). Industrial Revolution . Westminster, CA: Teacher Created Resources.