The Development of the Industrial United States

During the 19th century, the United States experienced tremendous industrial growth. This industrial growth resulted in many changes in American life. In the 1800s Americans faced positive and negatives effects on the development of industrialization. These effects were caused by the growth of monopoly, relationships between business & government, and the new technology and inventions. One way the new technology and inventions in the 1800s gave a positive effect to industrialization was Thomas Edison invented the light bulb.

This was a positive effect to industrialization because the workers can work at night for a higher wage. Businesses was able to have 24hour work shift. Workers were able to work longer for more pay. The assembly line was a positive effect on industrialization as well. It was quick and easy for the workers. Steel was also a great invention of the 1800s. It helped create railroads, bridges, and skyscrapers. This was because of the Bessemer process. The Bessemer process was the making of steel.

These inventions and technology gave a positive effect on the industrialization. However, A major negative effect was the relationship between business and government. The laissez faire was passed which gave complete freedom to business. Entrepreneurs grew off the laissez faire and that promoted social Darwinism; survival of the riches, to form. Big businesses progressed and monopolies were forming. This caused small businesses to get bullied by bigger businesses, lose money, go bankrupt, or/and get brought.

After complaints by small businesses to the government about the laissez faire, the government passed the Sherman anti-trust act, which was to outlaw trust and monopolies. This was not effective because businesses already gained trust by customers. This was a negative effect because all businesses didn’t get a chance to be equal because of the laissez faire. The growth of monopoly around the 1800s was cruel. Business owners began devising ways to reduce competition. One method was to buy competitors. The Rockefeller standard oil company created a success on the road to a monopoly.

During the 1860s, John D. Rockefeller had earned fortunes refining oil. He formed a corporation called “Standard Oil” around the 1870s. The company gave no chance for incoming businesses to form, and to businesses that was small they either went bankrupted, received lower pay, or been brought. The company controlled 90 percent of the nations oil production, which progressed into a monopoly in 1882. This was a positive because Rockefeller lowered prices and still managed to make money without loosing customers. The Carnegie steel company formed monopoly also.

Carnegie found a way to make iron into steel for important uses such as bridges, skyscrapers, and railroads. This gave off the same effect of any other monopoly, help customers and destroy competition. Growth of monopoly was a positive effect to industrialization because it gave businesses success. In the mid 1800s, industrialization was sparked with effects by the growth of monopoly, the new relationships between business and government, and the new inventions of technology. These effects were either positive or negative, which change industrialization in America today.