The Industrial Revolution occurred at the end of the 18th century in Great Britain and Europe. Later, in the 19th century, industrialization moved to the United States of America and this process occurred from 1820 till 1870. It was not an easy process though it brought with it economic progress and development. The country was supposed to overcome many difficulties in order to implement not only modern technologies, like manufacturing machines, transportation, electricity, etc. but also a new way of life, thinking, working conditions, and relationships between people. There were forces that made the country stronger as well as those which were acting towards separating it (Martin 154). Evidently, in the process of changes, there are always groups of people that oppose the main forces and are following only their own interests and demands.
The Industrial Revolution brought with it the implementation of machines and factories. These changes made a lot of people to be unsatisfied with industrialization because they were losing their incomes and jobs. Machine operating brought with it a lot of problems to people who are used to possess the hand-made production of food and goods. Machine operations and the opening of factories and plants substituted the hand labor and that was the main reason for the negative attitude upon it among many Americans. The USA was steadily transformed from the rural America into an urban state. A rapid growth of cities was an evidence of successful industrialization. More and more factories were opened all over the country. The number of urban population has grown from 6 million to 44 million from 1860 to 1910. As a result, a great number of rural people had to leave their households and move to cities looking for jobs. The urbanization of America had both positive and negative effects.
The development of cities and the opening of factories and plants was obviously a positive and effective trend in the process of industrialization (Martin 167). On the other hand, industrialization was a result of the deepening gap between the rich and the poor: those who were rich became richer and the poor became poorer. American industrialization was based on the cheap labor force of immigrants and poor Americans from rural areas. During that period a new wave of immigration from Europe and other countries was observed. By the end of the 19th century, the number of immigrants was 30 percent of the total American population. Immigrants searching for better life and wealth were supposed to work hard for cheap instead of getting rich.
Thus, American society was eventually changing into a modern urban state with an industrialized economy. Manufactures kept using cheap labor force recruiting newly-come immigrants who had no jobs and place to live. Various types of industries, like manufacturing, transportation, building, and others were developing. This was a result of the fast growth and development of cities and all necessary infrastructures. The industrialization of industries brought with it a great change of living and working standards that helped to turn the United States into a highly developed industrial country with high living standards, great opportunities for all, and respect in the political and economic spheres nationwide and abroad.
In conclusion, it is worth mentioning that American Industrial Revolution had the great impact into American economic development that had influenced upon the development of other countries in the world. Thus, successful and steady industrialization of the USA was occurred due to the Industrial Revolution in Great Britain and Europe. Since then the USA is considered to be the most powerful country in the world with high standards in all spheres of life which attract immigrants from all over the world.