The industrial revolution period, which was defined by massive technological advancement, changed the nature of work, mainly in the United States. The core elements that spurred industrial growth in America in the early 19th century included pro-business government policies, availability of workforce, technological advances (new patents), and abundant natural resources (iron and coal) (Liao et al., 2018). The industrial revolution impacted America, including escalated production of goods in factories and immigration, resulting in the growth of cities.
Industrialization in America: The Change of Nature of Work in the Early-Nineteenth Century in America Due to Industrialization
The nature of work is the type of job and responsibilities an employee can adequately perform at the workplace. Before industrialization, employees worked for longer workers in America, and there was low productivity and performance in various factories. However, in the early nineteenth century, the United States industrial revolution transformed economies primarily grounded on handicrafts and agriculture into financial growth based on mechanized manufacturing, large-scale industry, and the factory system (Stearns, 2020). The new power sources, modern machines, and advanced methods of organizing work made the existing companies more efficient and productive (Liao et al., 2018). To a great extent, the factory system spearheaded by industrialization changed the nature of work in multiple ways. Many people started leaving their homes to work in factories instead of performing industrial duties at their houses. The working schedules became highly regimented, and subordinates worked by hours, not seasons. Notably, many individuals started learning new skills and acquiring new experiences, making them shift from being manual laborers.
Examples Regarding the Transformation of the Nature of Work
Due to the great inventions, the employees started performing duties based on their capability and experience. For example, after the working steam engine was devised in the 19th century, factory executives started employing managers to ensure increased production and that the work was organized effectively (Liao et al., 2018). The employees, including Alfred Nobel, who innovated new products, such as dynamite, were able to patent them (Stearns, 2020). In the transportation industry, loco pilots operated steamed locomotives to ensure effective movement from one destination to another. Based on the employee’s title, they could undertake various tasks.
The Impact of Immigration: The Change of American Cities Due to Immigration
Immigration is the global movement of people to a destination state where they do not possess citizenship or are not natives to settle as naturalized citizens or permanent residents. In the early nineteenth century, immigration changed American cities. The United States municipalities, including California, Virginia, and New York, grew drastically during that time. The employers had affordable access to labor from the immigrants, who demanded lower wages than the native Americans. Notably, most cities with higher immigration rates experience significant population growth and provide an increased share of less skilled workers. The US cities recorded a population growth of approximately 15 million people, and the provision of their services resulted in urbanization (Stearns, 2020). Most commercial centers, schools, sanitation and sewerage system, and residential houses were built, improving the economies of such towns.
Furthermore, population growth and industrial expansion caused by immigration led to the escalation of traffic jams, air pollution, noise, and health and sanitation issues, resulting in the outbreak of diseases. Mass transit systems, including cable cars, subways, trolleys, and skyscrapers, were built and dominated various cities (Stearns, 2020). Due to immigration, the cities started experiencing an amalgamation of different cultures, whereby people (Germans, Spanish, and Britons) started practicing new traditions and customs, reflecting ethnic heritage.
Similarities and Differences Among the Texas, Oregon, and California Frontiers
After the American federal army conquered the natives of Western territories, they acquired Texas, Oregon, and California, making the United States a transcontinental state. Even though Oregon transitioned into a frontier of exclusion, the process was hazardous. The British first contact with the native Americans involved trading otter skins. In 1818, the British government constructed a trading post at Fort Vancouver to escalate Oregon as a frontier of inclusion (Stockman, 2019). However, Oregon was dominated by diseases, and none of the first settlers, including missionaries and fur trappers, were successful. The US and Britain split the Oregon territory apart after the American settlers occupied land with no legal rights.
Furthermore, the frontier sequence in Texas initially blended with American natives occupying the land, followed by their removal and exclusion. In the early 19th century, the natives remained influential in politics and the economy (Stockman, 2019). Compared to other settlements, such as Oregon, Texas housing was entirely legal land from the formal agreements with the Mexican administration, whereby the settlers acknowledged to became Mexican-Catholic citizens. The Texas frontier was highly occupied by rich southern enslavers eager to expand their cotton production, and the settlements were concentrated in the fertile lands of the south-central and eastern sides of the city.
In addition, most settlers established self-contained societies that had low contact with native Americans as they never learned Spanish or converted to become Catholics. During the Bear Flag Revolt in 1846, the Americans declared independence from Mexico (Stockman, 2019). Regarding California, the discovery of gold in 1849 resulted in population growth and attracted people, including the Chinese (Stearns, 2020). There were few American settlers in California, and Indian tribes dominated the area. Texas was occupied by American southerners, while migrants from across the world settled in California. Texas’s bloody independence struggle by fighting enslavement varied from California’s experience as a remote maritime province overwhelmed by the international gold rush. As more American settlers occupied the lands, the exclusion principles escalated in the Texas, California, and Oregon frontiers. The settlers thought they had the right to land ownership to vacate the other people from such areas. California and Oregon frontiers commenced due to trade, intermarriage, and accommodation. As time progressed, California, Oregon, and Texas were declared independent states of America.
Conclusion
The primary factors that spurred industrial growth in the United States include abundant natural resources, availability of labor, pro-venture government laws, and technological advancements. Industrialization changed the nature of work in America as people having various skills and experiences started performing workplace duties based on their job titles, such as loco pilots. To a great extent, immigration transitioned the American cities, where increased population growth offered cheap labor, resulting in the development of commercial centers, rental houses, and transit systems. Due to immigration, the cities started experiencing an amalgamation of different cultures, leading to the sprouting of American ethical heritage. In contrast to Texas, factors such as intermarriage, accommodation, and trade, resulted in the growth of Oregon and California frontiers. As more American settlers occupied the lands, the exclusion principles elevated in the Oregon, Texas, and California frontiers.
References
Liao, Y., Loures, E. R., Deschamps, F., Brezinski, G., & Venâncio, A. (2018). The impact of the fourth industrial revolution: A cross-country/region comparison. Production, 28(5), 27-34. Web.
Stearns, P. N. (2020). The industrial revolution in world history. Routledge.
Stockman, J. A. (2019). Coming to America: Regulatory oversight of United States immigration policies: A brief history. Pediatric Clinics, 66(3), 525-536. Web.