Basic Econimics
Over the United States’ history, business and government have grown exponentially. This growth has had a huge affect on people, some for the better and some for the worse. The affect of this is outlined in this part of the essay, pointing out how people responded to the changes in their lives, and also other topics such as the concept of “the white man’s burden”.
The process of rebuilding that followed the American Civil War (1861-1865) was reconstruction. Since the United States had never before experienced a civil war, it left Americans with the problems of what to do with the South after the defeat of the Confederacy and the overthrow of slavery.
Although the debate over these problems began during the war, and continued for decades, the time period of the Reconstruction is roughly from1865 to 1877. This period began with an intense national struggle over the shape of society and government in the postwar South; it ended with the collapse of the last Southern state governments under Republican control and the acknowledgment that the federal attempt to remake the South was over.
From 1870 to 1900, the United States became the world's foremost industrial nation. It emerged as the leader in meatpacking, in production of timber and steel, and in the mining of coal, iron, gold, and silver. Overall, the nation experienced a stunning explosion in the scale of industry and in the pace of production. By the turn of the century, industrialization had transformed commerce, business organization, the environment, the workplace, the home, and everyday life.
Technological advances transformed production. The new machine tool industry, which turned out drilling, cutting, and milling machines, sped up manufacturing. A trail of inventions led to new industries. Finally, business leaders learned how to operate and coordinate many different economic activities across broad geographic areas. Businesses were able to become larger, and the modern corporation became an important form of business organization.
The trend toward large-scale production changed the structure of the labor force and the nature of work. From 1870 to 1900, as the industrial work force expanded, the unskilled worker replaced the craftsperson. The typical workplace was more likely to be a large factory than a small workshop. Employers replaced skilled labor with machines and low-paid workers. Factory tasks became specialized, repetitive, and monotonous. The need for unskilled labor drew women and children into the industrial work force. Industrial labor in the late 19th century was often hazardous. Workers lacked protection against industrial accidents, long hours, wage cuts, layoffs, and sudden periods of unemployment.
As the industrial work force grew, tensions increased between labor and management. Labor unions emerged to protect the rights of workers and to represent them in negotiations with management. Most employers vigorously opposed trade union activity, and struggles between workers and employers often became violent.