Industrial Revolution HIST105-IP3 Name Class Date Professor Industrial in United States Prior to industrialization, agriculture was the main industry in the United States. It was not until the mid 18th century that mechanical processes began to appear in Western society and by the 19th Century the Industrial Revolution was in full swing. Prior to the Industrial Revolution everything that was made was made by hand and any machines were used individually in a business not as a manufacturing process. After the development of Industrialization the way goods were produced changed simplifying and improving the ability of all types of industries to produce their goods. Thanks to industrialization America developed into a modern and innovative society. Positive Development due to Industrialization Industrialization forever changed the United States and European countries. The first positive contribution made that positively affected America society was the manufacturing process. Known as the American system of manufacturing, this new system of production began to appear in different cities in America. In the United States, the first factory system appeared in Waltham and Lowell in the 1810s and 1820s in the textile industry (Backer, 2009). The new factory model consisted of a manufacturer process that was power-driven by machinery that changed different aspects of society including labor, specialization, and manufacturing. The Industrial Revolution forever changed how people worked. They no longer had to work a piece of machinery on their own and create all parts of a product. After the development of the factory process this all changed. Due to manufacturing and the development of the assembly line process businesses were able to produce mass amounts of good. This reduced the cost of production and allowed businesses to mechanize and standardize there manufacturing processes. Americas manufacturing process, the assembly line, was copied by industrial business across the globe and due to their ability to simplify labor became a leader in the production of goods shipped all over the world. Businessmen, like Henry Ford, were able to produce mass good and become the industrial leaders for the United States and the world. Using the assembly line, Ford was able to produce the first vehicle that could be afforded by the average person through the use of standardized parts and an assembly line. The assembly line was the reason America was able to win the First and Second World Wars and it also resulted in a new approach to labor. For the first time workers came to work and worked 8 hour shifts of production. This help to standardize labor processes. The second positive contribution made that positively affected America society the harnessing of power. Prior to the Industrial Revolution citizens in America relied on candles for power. Even though power was discovered before industrialization only a select fe.

1. Industrial Revolution
HIST105-IP3
Name
Class
Date
Professor
Industrial in United States
Prior to industrialization, agriculture was the main industry
in the United States. It was not until the mid 18th century that
mechanical processes began to appear in Western society and by
the 19th Century the Industrial Revolution was in full swing.
Prior to the Industrial Revolution everything that was made was
made by hand and any machines were used individually in a

2. business not as a manufacturing process. After the development
of Industrialization the way goods were produced changed
simplifying and improving the ability of all types of industries
to produce their goods. Thanks to industrialization America
developed into a modern and innovative society.
Positive Development due to Industrialization
Industrialization forever changed the United States and
European countries. The first positive contribution made that
positively affected America society was the manufacturing
process. Known as the American system of manufacturing, this
new system of production began to appear in different cities in
America. In the United States, the first factory system appeared
in Waltham and Lowell in the 1810s and 1820s in the textile
industry (Backer, 2009). The new factory model consisted of a
manufacturer process that was power-driven by machinery that
changed different aspects of society including labor,
specialization, and manufacturing.
The Industrial Revolution forever changed how people
worked. They no longer had to work a piece of machinery on
their own and create all parts of a product. After the
development of the factory process this all changed. Due to
manufacturing and the development of the assembly line process
businesses were able to produce mass amounts of good. This
reduced the cost of production and allowed businesses to
mechanize and standardize there manufacturing processes.
Americas manufacturing process, the assembly line, was copied
by industrial business across the globe and due to their ability
to simplify labor became a leader in the production of goods
shipped all over the world.
Businessmen, like Henry Ford, were able to produce mass
good and become the industrial leaders for the United States
and the world. Using the assembly line, Ford was able to
produce the first vehicle that could be afforded by the average
person through the use of standardized parts and an assembly
line. The assembly line was the reason America was able to win
the First and Second World Wars and it also resulted in a new

3. approach to labor. For the first time workers came to work and
worked 8 hour shifts of production. This help to standardize
labor processes.
The second positive contribution made that positively
affected America society the harnessing of power. Prior to the
Industrial Revolution citizens in America relied on candles for
power. Even though power was discovered before
industrialization only a select few had access. During
industrialization this forever changed. First was the discovery
of hydroelectric power sources which allowed for a large area to
be powered from this source. Dams and reservoirs provide
hydroelectric power. The ability to mass produce goods allowed
for the production of electric polls and the wire needed to string
power lines resulted in the country slowly becoming fueled by
electricity.
Nice electricity could be produced to citizens the United
States quickly began to develop and become more modernized
cities began to pop up all over the country strengthening the
economy. Electricity improved communication capabilities,
powered lights in homes and businesses, powered electric
motors, and eventually led to every city being powered by
electricity (). Electricity allowed for the development of new
technologies which would eventually lead to the current
Information Age.
Negative Development due to Industrialization
The Industrial Revolution provided many benefit to
America society and to societies across the globe but it also
created some challenges. The first negative development as the
result of Industrialization involves war and the capabilities
developed by many countries. Before Industrialization it was
difficult to declare war against America because it is so far
from any other nation and it would take a long time and a great
deal of resources to use ships to attack America.
It was not until industrialization and the development of the
manufacturing of small planes and bombs that America was first
attacked by an enemy with the exception of the American

4. Revolution. America was attacked by the Japanese at Pear
Harbor in the 1940’s through the use of small planes that the
Japanese would refuel at a small island in between America and
Japan. America able mass produce weapons needed to win the
war and eventually defeat the Japanese and the Germans but not
before thousands of servicemen and Americans lost their lives.
The second negative development is the development of
weapons of mass destruction. America ended the war with Japan
with an atomic bomb and soon developed nuclear weapons that
could potentially wipe out an entire country (McLamb, 2011).
In current society countries large and small have access to
nuclear weapons which could potentially threaten America and
American citizens. Nuclear weapons are closely monitored but
in the hands of terrorists could result in major damage to people
and property. Despite major technological developments nuclear
weapons continue to be the biggest threat to global society.
Industrial Revolution Beneficial or Detrimental
The Industrial Revolution brought more benefits than
hardships to American society. New modern inventions
improved the lives of every American and the country became
better equipped to fight off any enemies (Lienhard, 1997).
Industrialization has first forever changed American society by
allowing citizen’s access to products once not attainable to the
masses. The new manufacturing process and the assembly line
forever changed how goods were produced and how labor was
distributed and managed. Manufactured parts became
standardized allowing for fewer mistakes and the creation of the
same exact product.
Without industrialization all industries in society would
continue to function only in the geographical area where they
were located and transported methods would be limited.
Industrialization nationalized America or made it one great
nation just like technology is creating a new global society.
Through industrialization the way employees were managed
forever changed and while citizens fought hard for employee
rights it eventually led to employee rights and regulated labor

5. and benefits.
Some challenges have also surfaced, such as global warming
and the threat of nuclear weapons, but over all industrialization
has changed American society for the good. Society has become
more modern and many processes in life have been improved
and simplified. Women have new machines to assist in the
housework. Medicine has improved and live once lost are saved,
and all citizens have access to electricity. Industrialization has
resulted in better constructed goods and more effective
manufacturing methods in society but has also led to newer and
greater technological innovations that have improved every
aspect of society.
References
Backer, P. (2009). Industrialization of American Society.
Retrieved February 28, 2014 from
http://www.engr.sjsu.edu/pabacker/industrial.htm
Lienhard, J. (1997). American Industrial Revolution. Retrieved
February 28, 2014 from
http://www.uh.edu/engines/epi181.htm
McLamb, E. (2011). The Ecological Impact of the Industrial
Revolution. Retrieved February 28,
2014 from http://www.ecology.com/2011/09/18/ecological-
impact-industrial-revolution/