Evolution of the nation

U.S. History

America as a nation in 19th century: the Progressive Movement and its effects on American society

In the history of the United States as a nation and state, 19th century is marked as a period wherein significant changes and shifts in the society began, occurred and developed to result later into the country's significant role in the process of promoting modernism in the 20th century. There are many catalysts that serve as causes for the rapid urbanization and industrialization of the country; each of this catalyst or cause was significant in contributing to this significant change in American society and history.

In this discussion and analysis paper, different dimensions touching on American urbanization and industrialization in the 19th century are cited. These dimensions take into account the dynamics that happened in the society during this period, such as changes in labor dynamics, industry and everyday living, urbanization, social movements and socio-political policies.

In discussing and analyzing these dimensions, their linkages with urbanization and modernization are scrutinized as well. Ultimately, this discussion and analysis paper posits that changes in the economic structure of United States, from being a traditional society to a highly-urbanized and -industrialized nation, led to socio-political changes that resulted to its being one of the first nations that promoted and embodied modernism with the emergence of the 20th century, the period wherein modernism flourished and dominated for most of the world's societies.

It is interesting to note that the first manifestation of the rapid urbanization and industrialization occurring in the United States in the 19th century was shown through the increased demand for labor or human resource in the country. In the years 1865 to 1900, the U.S. became one of the most progressive industrial nations, with prosperous industries in meatpacking, timber and steel production and coal, gold, silver and iron mining. As a result of these booming industries in the country, there was an increase in the demand for manpower. This demand for increased number of manpower was not only triggered by the presence of these industries, but also due to new developments in technology, ease of transporting people from one place to another and most importantly, the lowering cost of energy, making it possible for industries to continue manufacturing without worrying so much about energy cost. Thus, these factors were the catalysts that helped promote the booming industries of meatpacking, mining and timber and steel production in the U.S.

The demand for manpower was directly linked to the population shift that happened in the country during this period. With increased demand for human resource, migration and immigration occurred also at an increased pace, therefore resulting to growing population, wherein laborers became congested in cities and highly-urbanized areas in the country, working for mining, meatpacking and manufacturing industries that helped the country's economy prosper. Thus, these changes -- specifically, increases -- in the population growth of United States during the 19th century was triggered by the fact that with booming industries in the country, there was a corresponding need for increased manpower, which triggered, correspondingly, the influx of migration and immigration in the country.

Because of the increased modernism that occurred in the U.S., there had been a corresponding response from the farmers, who found themselves at a disadvantage with the increased scarcity of farm lands and lowered demand for farm workers. Both the Southern and Northern region farmers united to form the People's Party, or "popularly" called the Populists. The Populists formed together to create a political movement that would enact on the increasing occurrences of falling prices of farm products and debts among farmers. The Populists became known for their active participation in invoking the fact that with the gradual decline of economic growth in the country in the 1890s, especially in the agrarian sector, it became proven that the laissez faire form of government when it comes to the nation's economy is not effective and efficient in spurring economic growth. Although the Populists lost their popularity after the national elections in the 1930s, its impact on economic policy remained, as the New Deal was passed and enacted, marking one of the many landmark policies enacted in the Progressive Era.

Concurrently, while the agrarian sector and movements suffered from the effects of urbanization and the nation's laissez faire form of government, cities flourished as more and more economic progress happened in the area of industrialization. New technology allowed new industries to flourish; increased immigration made possible the increasing mandate of political groups and movements and policies that supported the path towards industrialization and urbanization. Railroads became a cause for faster transportation, in addition to electric streetcars, making trade and migration from city to city easier -- in effect, making business transactions and operations faster and easier for Americans during the period of 19th century.

Industrialization impacted on national economy by helping create and develop the corporation, perhaps the biggest business organization that could possibly be formed under the modernist economic system. Apart from the creation of the corporation, foreign trade also increased, in the same manner as migration and immigration -- the influx of human resource within and outside the country -- increased during this time. Apart from these national changes in the economic structure, domestic changes also happened as a result: electric lighting, indoor plumbing and appliances became a common sight among American homes. This change in American lifestyle increased the living standards of Americans during the 19th century.

As mentioned earlier, the Populist movement of farmers led to an assessment of the efficiency and effectiveness of the laissez faire form of government. Other factors contributed to this perceived inefficiency and ineffectiveness of laissez faire, such as the lack of policies pertaining to labors' rights and managing human resource within business organizations. With these issues in mind, the government ceased to adopt the laissez faire form of governance, and opted to enforce policies that control specific issues concerning the country's economy, such as the establishment and control of corporations, and the implementation of policies and regulations that provide fair treatment to laborers/workers. As a result of this government intervention to the economy, labor unions were created and developed to become one of the strong forces that dictate the dynamics within the labor movement. Moreover, corporations, companies and business entities also learned to observe and follow specific economic policies that would prevent them from dominating or controlling a specific industry or field in the commercial market.