Alicia Stetin Research Paper 20th Century Industrialization in the United States

HIS102

Industrialization is significant to every countrys success and reputation. Industrialization played a huge role in the rise of the United States of America, specifically in the Twentieth Century. It was after the Civil War that American History started to change dramatically. Machines all over the country were starting to take the place of hand labor, increasing the production size and capacity of industry tremendously. This was a huge progression for the United States and is part of why America is such a thriving country today. The twentieth century was a thriving time for industrialization in America. This is when automobiles, radios, televisions, and computers were invented. Today, most of us would not be able to picture our lives without those things. Transportation in the United States became huge in the 20th century. Railroads began their quest to cross the continent. In 1850 there were about 9,000 miles of track laid. Aided by government land grants in 1865 there was over 35,000 miles of track and by 1890 there was over 200,000 miles of track. By the year 1900 there was a nationwide network of railroads that made shipping and transportation easier and helped to spur on industrial growth. Cars were also an extremely significant invention for 20th century America. By the 1950s nearly 50 million cars were on the road. In the year 2000, there were more than 220 million. Thats more than one car for every person over the age of eighteen. Throughout the 20th century, cars became less of a luxury and more of a necessity. Airplanes are another great invention of the 20th century. Air travel has revolutionized our world. By 1957,

airplanes would surpass trains as the preferred mode of travel for Americans, and today air travel makes the whole world accessible, transporting goods and people around the globe, and facilitating personal, cultural, and commercial interaction on a grand scale. Its obvious that transportation has had a lasting effect on the United States and with these advances it helped us surpass other countries. The development of the computer was a huge push forward for industrialization in American society. There is almost no other engineered device that has captured the attention of the average citizen as much as the computer has. It took just two decades for the computer to become an integral part of every major industry. Communications, manufacturing, research, medicine, education, government, entertainment, and many other industries, use computers as a main way for them to function. Its because of this advancement in the 20th century that today the average American now has unlimited access to unprecedented amounts of knowledge, and can communicate freely in a world forum. The computer has, without a doubt, advanced a global community, and its because of this American invention in the 20th century that we have something so amazing. This was a great rise in industrialization for America. Highways were also another great part of industrialization in 20th century America. In the early 20th century, most of the streets and roads in the United States were made of dirt, brick, and cedar blocks. The roads were built mostly for horse, carriage, and foot traffic. Throughout the 20th century this completely changed. Today we have an extensive system of highways, bridges, and tunnels that direct us to towns, cities, and rural areas. The construction of this system was spurred by

two wars and the growing availability of automobile transportation, and was made possible by the achievements of thousands of engineers. Highways have opened our country, enabled goods and services to reach remote areas, encouraged the growth of suburbs, and provided people everywhere with greater options in terms of access to jobs, healthcare, services, education, and cultural resources. Above all, highways have provided American with one of our most cherished assets; the freedom of mobility. Agricultural Mechanization is another effect of industrialization in the United States in the 20th century. During the beginning of the century in the United States, it took a very large team of farmers and field hands weeks to plant and harvest just one crop. It also took four farmers to feed about ten people. Currently, the entire Midwestern corn crop can be planted in ten days and harvested in twenty, and a single farmer can produce enough food to feed ninety-seven Americans and thirtytwo people in other countries. Twentieth century engineering has made the difference. The tractor, the reaper, the combine, and hundreds of other machines and devices gave farmers the mechanical advantage they had long needed to make their lives much easier and make their lands truly profitable to its full potential. Without the advancement of agricultural mechanization we wouldnt have nearly as much food and wouldnt get it nearly as fast as we do today. This has made food industries in America extremely powerful. Another very significant invention in 20th century America was the telephone. The telephone has evolved tremendously. It gives people the opportunity to have instantaneous connections between friends, families, businesses, and

nations. The telephone enables the communications that enhance our lives, industries, and economies. The introduction of radio and television were also major agents of social change in the 20th century. This opened windows to other lives, even to remote areas of the world. Broadcasts of news, sports evens, and live performances captivated so many people around the world. It was by the mid 1930s almost every American household had a radio, and in the 1940s the television first reached the market. Television and radio have engaged millions of people in the major historical events that have shaped our world. Those were just a few industrial and engineering achievements that America had in the 20th century. There were many more achievements throughout the 20th century that made America what it is today; a thriving and successful, free country. Its because of these advancements in industrialization that the United States grew to be such a powerful, dominant, and robust country. The industrialization in the U.S. grew at a greater rate during the 20th century than most other countries. We had all the advancements in technology, transportation, agriculture, etc. that made us a thriving country during that time and its because of those advancements that we are still a thriving country today. Industrialization is what built and grew our country those achievements are something to be very proud of.

References Launius, Rodger D. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Choosing Transportation Modes In The 20Th-Century American West. Journal Of The West 42.2 (2003): 45-55. America: History & Life. Web. 23 Apr. 2014. CHILDRESS, VINCENT W. Highway Construction In The U.S.: COSTS, BENEFITS, DEPENDENCE. Technology & Engineering Teacher 72.4 (2012): 24-29. Academic Search Complete. Web. 23 April. 2014. New Technologies- Industrialization. New Technologies- Industrialization. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2014. History of the United States Industrialization and Reform (1870-1916). History of the United States, Industrialization and Reform. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.