Industrialization Immigration Urbanization and Transportation in United States Post Civil War

Industrialization, Immigration, Urbanization, And Transportation in United States Post Civil War

The process to modernize the American states after the end of the Civil War was one of the most complex events that shape the way in which the history of the United States would evolve in the 20th century. There were several aspects of the history of the States that determined changes influenced by consequences of these events. In this sense, the processes of industrialization, immigration, transportation, and urbanization were essential for the evolution of the U.S. In the period since 1860 to 1920 when the U.S. became indeed an important power in the world.

However, there is a sequence of events that determine such outcomes. Therefore, it can be said that it was in fact the industrialization process which influenced the development of the others. It was a causal relationship between these elements that all together determined the evolution of the United States.

The issue of industrialization came to be a reality immediately after the end of the Civil War due to the eventual outcome of the conflict (Jenkins, 1997). The policy following the defeat of the South was established through the Reconstruction Act of March 2, 1867, which divided the territory into five military districts, ruled under the martial law. This enabled the North to have an increased control over the industrial potential of the country. The result was obvious. "In 1860, America was fourth in the world in manufacturing but by the turn of the 20th century was the biggest industrial nation in the world by far" (Katers, 2006). This entire process was in fact the result of a redistribution of resources towards the industrial areas of the East Coast. It also attracted the development towards west of businesses and entrepreneurship.

The industrialization process was driving force for all the other mechanisms of development. In this sense, it helped the immigration trend to a large extent. It represented an incentive for the increase of immigrants because industrialization implied additional labor force needed. In the early years of the Union, there was a certain flow of immigrants that considered the American soil as being the El Dorado and they were the ones that continued the Gold Rush. However, during the industrialization period, the flow of immigrants that set foot in the United States became employed in more specialized sectors of the economy, more precisely the ship building industry, crafts, and other works that became of success in the industrial America. In this sense, Italian immigrants came to regions of Baltimore (Davison, 1998), Eastern Europeans, Germans, and even Chinese came to either seek employment or an escape from their own countries (Rise of Industrial America, 2004). Thus, it can be said that the industrialization helped the U.S. To receive sufficient and cheap labor force, and the immigrants to find a place of refuge and personal accomplishment.

Industrialization was also a triggering element for the evolution and development of transportation. More precisely, the railway system that was established as a result of the grants passed by the Congress to financially support these endeavors had several effects. On the one hand, it helped the development process move West, in the remote corners of the country. This was indeed justified by the increased attention the West came to get. In this sense, it is rather famous the story of the Bonanza and the mines of the West. These were considered to be a myth and many wanted to prove the truth (Wolle, 1953). This in turn encouraged the migration west hence the development of railroad transportation.