The Transformation After the Civil War

Transformation from the decades of the civil war through the early twentieth century was one of the most defining moments in U.S. history. This period set the foundation for the modern environment in which we live in today. Many things changed in this period, some were good, and many were bad. For example, during this period, the material holdings for normal Americans changed dramatically. Some pictures show how many people went from having wooden bowls to pewter to china (Davidson & Lytle, 2009).

If you just looked at evidence such as this, you would assume that life greatly improved for many Americans, and it did in many ways. However, there were also many social and demographic changes taking place. The country went from something of a rural nation to that of an urban and industrializing power. Factories and steel mills flourished. The first railroad to connect the coasts was completed in 1869. The petroleum industry began to gain momentum and electricity was discovered which allowed for a plethora of new inventions.

Americans began a Western expansion and this had serious consequences for the indigenous population. The Indians were commonly thought of as savage children in the natural wilderness that were trapped in the past and that they lacked culture, reason, religion, science, writing, property, and rights (UTEP, N.d.). Because of the stereotype that was developed about these peoples, mass genocide and inhumane treatment was a normal occurrence and did not gather much resistance.

Furthermore, much of this expansion was even glorified and fictionalized, and the story of the Western Frontier framed this conquest as spreading culture or democracy (Secchiaroli, 2001). In the urban areas, new methods of production and mechanization proved to be highly effective and production outputs sored over previous levels. This had many social effects on the population. Part of this trend included the specialization of labor and the modern factory worker, or blue collared worker, became a growing class in the U.S.

Although there were many advantages that occurred as a result of the industrialization, these benefits were not shared equally throughout the classes in society. Some of the factory conditions were horrific and disease and injury were common. Laborers did not receive vacation or sick days and there was nothing in the form of a safety net available. Furthermore, it was commonly the case that young children had to work long days in rough conditions as well. The individuals who owned the factories had a much different fate however.

The economic growth was largely consolidate at the top and some organizations began to dominate entire industries. Many of these organizations actively attempted to establish monopoly control in the market by eliminating the competition through different means. The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 banned trusts, mergers, and business agreements "in restraint of trade" and later industrialization also brought with it the rise of organized labor. Organized labor was sometimes effectively able to use their collective powers to address poor working conditions and a labor movement was born.

However, the achievements that these unions made was not without heavy resistance from the business community and struggles were often bloody. Many of the same themes that developed in this period seem to still be present in the Republic. Inequality and the role of.