Technology and Migration in Industrial Urbanization in U.S History

Introduction

The United States of America and its history have many historical periods and stages that were critical and decisive in its development. One such period is the industrial urbanization that swept the country during the late nineteenth and continued until the middle of the past century. Industrial urbanization is also commonly referred to as a continuation of the First Industrial Revolution. That is since the rapid rate of urban population growth fell simultaneously as technological progress reached new achievements. It should not be forgotten that the more significant share of all production and technical development fell on newly formed or already existing cities and their environs.

Moving to the cities, people left the countryside, and technology, in turn, was increasingly exposed to industrial solutions. The metallurgical industry has shown the most progress. Thus, the mining sector needed the evolvement of technological innovations and solutions, which in turn could ensure and accelerate the progress of such areas as electricity supply chain and communications. Consequently, the economy’s growth was censured by large volumes of manufacture and industry development, which in turn called for massive human power and could provide occupation for new residents of cities.

The Role of Migration in the Industrial Urbanization

Migration, in its essence, was not something new in the history of humankind in those days. Due to the growth of the entire population, the emergence and demand for jobs have not become an extraordinary phenomenon. However, the need for new resources and technological solutions has allowed migration to solve this problem in its way. For instance, “the tide of immigration rose from just under 3 million annually in the 1870s to more than 5 million in the 1880s”¹. Indeed, correspondingly the end of the Civil War and, therefore, the economic crisis, people began to look for new regions and cities in search of jobs.¹

One such city that perhaps attracted the attention of the entire United States population was New York. The population of this city grew dramatically in the first decade of the last century, even though many natural resources were located and mined in completely remote sites. The basis for moving to New York was the career prospects and opportunities that this city granted to its residents – starting from the industrial surroundings and the expansion of shipping routes and production, ending with a convenient infrastructure². New York was renowned for accommodating many industries, warehouses, and large companies in one place. In addition, such migration and population density surge allow other areas of the city’s life to grow significantly, as was the case with education, medicine, and the food industry.

It was not without problems because such a rapid pace of migration to one city promised many distinctive conditions. Overcrowded areas, lack of sanitation, and shortage of sleeping areas for the working class became a decisive concern for the entire state. Be that as it may, this made it achievable to organize ideal conditions for the city’s prosperity. Developing the general infrastructure of the city, the working class built skyscrapers, new roads, and bridges, which were necessary not only for living conditions but also for the development of industry as well³. In addition, with the advent of convenient infrastructure, there was a demand for the creation of various public groups and communities that would govern the living conditions in New York.

Technology and Its Role in the Industrial Urbanization

An essential part of industrial development was the progress of technology. A special place is occupied by the production of cast iron, steel, and other heavy metals, which have become the guarantor of the emergence of new technologies and inventions. The emergence and development of the steam engine made it possible to optimize production processes and direct human resources to more complex tasks. Furthermore, electricity could now provide for the construction of factories inside the city, which in turn became a critical factor in the inception of new regions on the map of the United States.

Electricity, in addition, could provide uninterrupted power to all factories, and people had more advantage to earn money at night. On such night and morning shifts, the automated conveyor production system allowed it to stimulate specific tasks. The population no longer needed to receive additional or primary education in order to get a job. They had enough ordinary physical strength and time for instructions. Of course, such work was paid lower, but on the other hand, thanks to this, the product’s final price did not exceed consumers’ expectations.

Moreover, new solutions in the field of vehicles made it possible to substantially accelerate the development of the entire US economy and general communication between cities and states. Within the next 20 years, from the start of the second wave of industrialization, all US states were connected by railroads. The increase in the number of railways and communications, in turn, made it possible to regulate and control migration flows from regions to cities. As a result, they became the result of such rapid growth in city populations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, industrial urbanization certainly changed Americans’ pace and way of life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Thanks to the Americans’ hard work of that time, urban industrialization gained rapid growth. Buildings in cities, the laying of railways, and the work of uninterrupted factories – were the guarantor of such a phenomenon. Nevertheless, it was technology that became the main factor, including the growth of the population of cities and the emergence of new jobs for migrants. Electricity allowed to increase production processes and volumes in conjunction with the conveyor method of operation of factories. Thus, allowing the development of infrastructure around these factories, providing migrants with both work and housing.

Of course, migration may have played one of the critical roles in the growth of the overall economy indexes. However, all this could not have happened without the development of technological solutions, which in turn caused a frantic demand for jobs. The process of urbanization and technological industrialization started earlier, but it was technology that, by its very nature, contributed to the growth of economic indicators compared to other factors. That is, technology occupies a special place in the history of industrial urbanization and the current standard of living people owe to innovation.

Bibliography

Shi, David Emory. America: The Essential Learning Edition. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2022.

Judd, Dennis R., Annika M. Hinze. City Politics: The Political Economy of Urban America. New York: Routledge, 2019.

Roark, James, Michael P. Johnson, Francois Furstenberg, Sarah Stage, Sarah E Igo. The American Promise: A Concise History. New York, Macmillan, 2019.

Footnotes

1. Shi, David Emory. America: The Essential Learning Edition. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2022, 630.
2. Judd, Dennis R., Annika M. Hinze. City Politics: The Political Economy of Urban America. New York: Routledge, 2019, 37.
3. Roark, James, Michael P. Johnson, Francois Furstenberg, Sarah Stage, Sarah E Igo. The American Promise: A Concise History. New York, Macmillan, 2019, 55.