The Industrial Revolution here in the United States introduced many advancements to the American Society. It transformed a largely agricultural society into an industrial powerhouse. The revolution also introduced many American goods to the international market,
One such product was the Erie Canal. A byproduct of American ingenuity, it was built to help transport goods without having to use roads or natural bodies of water. We could now build canals to aid in moving goods.
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| The Erie Canal, c. 1890 Source |
With the Canal, the movement of goods from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes was made easier. This canal also allowed New York City surpass Philadelphia as the largest port on the Eastern Seaboard.
The Industrial Revolution also helped shape many ideals. The ideas of Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship took hold, and many became wealthy because of this. Some entrepreneurs like John Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie, began their companies with the sole purpose of becoming rich. The ideas behind free enterprise allowed them to do so, and make a profit. With profit in mind, the aforementioned entrepreneurs are now enticed to work and begin companies. This in turn would strengthen the economy.
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| John D. Rockefeller, founder of Standard Oil Company, the largest oil company of its time. Source |
The United States also benefited from its vast quantities of natural resources. One of the most important resources was oil. Advancements in science made oil a very valuable commodity. Rockefeller, taking advantage of this new resource, formed a company that was based around it. Oil then powered everything from then. Automobiles, and Airplanes were powered by gasoline. Now that the United States had a large amount, designating it as a world superpower.
Oil, which was now cheap and widespread, powered everything. Factories ran on it and cars ran on it. The United States utilized it once the century turned. At the turn of the century, technology advanced, and the advent of free business allowed tycoons to prosper in their respective industries, all of which were powered by oil.
In conclusion, the industrial revolution brought about change in the United States. Whether for good or for bad, many of those ideas took hold. Free enterprise, entrepreneurship and unions were a major part of the good change. But with change came hardship. For many years after, the environment was polluted, and factories and sweatshops were propped up, giving CEO's a lot of power over their workers, many of whom could not make a living wage. All these factors, however, played a large part in the rise of the United States at a global stage. Today, the United States is still a world superpower.
