The definition of opportunity (provided by google) is “ a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something”. Often this term is used to describe America, namely it is considered “a land of opportunity”. With this being said there are many ways or instances where America offered and took away wonderful opportunities. Considering the time period of 1870-1910 and the topics of Industrialization, The Homestead act, Minority Biases, Second Industrialization Inventions, as well as Captains of Industry vs Robber Barons. We can come to the conclusion that America would be viewed as a land of opportunity for the majority and would not be viewed as land of opportunity for minorities. To begin, rapid industrialization had a huge impact …show more content…
Specifically, the transcontinental railroad system helped. The railroad system helped the lives of poor people because of the fact that it helped people get to where they needed to go if their travel distance was long. The railroad system also helped bring America together in many different backgrounds. It ultimately brought up the economic power of America because the increasing population leads to increase in demand and an increase in profit. Additionally, many different inventions improved the lives of the masses significantly. Without inventions such as the telegraph and the streetcar are very influential inventions that helped the life of Americans in the 19th century. Three specific inventions are the telegraph, streetcar, and plumbing system. The telegraph helped send messages across long distances in a short amount of time. The streetcar helped provide transportation to those that were poor or couldn’t afford a horse to get around . Industrialization changed life in the cities because you could go to work for longer at different time periods of the day. This increase in business would lead to an increase in profit ultimately leading to an increase in greater economic power. The plumbing system was another invention that helped the American economy through improving the lifespan of the population. Prior to the invention of the plumbing system people died from diseases as a result of them throwing the waste outside and the fumes developing in the air. Following the introduction of the plumbing system less people died from disease because their waste actually had somewhere to go. Leading to less toxic fume development. Without these inventions curated by industrialization many people would not have been able to fully live their life with
The railroad completely changed the way trade worked. Before the railroad people had to deliver goods by wagon, and that would cause a lot of problems because of the rough terrain and long delivery times, but with the railroad it made things 100 times easier for the single conductor, and the buyers who would get their product much faster than before. Railroads not only helped the economy, but it helped people as well, unlike most things that happened in the U.S. economy, there was little to nothing negative about the creation of railroads which was ideal because it is still being used today. Preceding the railroads there were steamboats, the steamboats were a big hassle because of the dangers, such as indian attacks or boiler explosions, but the Framers were not going to back down until they found the perfect way of trade, hence the railroad. Another way America increased trade was when the cotton gin was created.
Can you imagine living in the 20th century without any roads, railroads, and canals when trying to travel somewhere? These different types of transportation helped impacted the American society between 1815 and 1860 were road, canals, and railroads. These forms of transportation have helped the American society in the 1800’s and continued to evolve in the America it is today. The transportation revolution made traveling easier.
The impact of railroads on Iowa and the United States was profound. They helped to spur economic growth in the state. Railroads made it easier and cheaper to transport goods across the country, which in turn made
Throughout the nineteenth century during the industrial revolution, transportation improvements benefited the economy in America in various ways. Railroads quickly took precedence in the United Sates; they were faster and more reliable than other transportation mode. After the construction of trains in the East, they rapidly spread to the Pacific Ocean. Railroads brought numerous benefits to the economy and the market. In the 1800s, railroads profited the economy in the United States by providing easier access to the western United States, reducing shipping time and cost, and expanding industries.
The early railroad was revolutionary to the transportation industry in America during the Industrial Revolution. It connected the country from the East to the West and changed the formation of the United States and other aspects of the country forever including its economy and population. It had a large impact on trade in the United States and boosted capital, especially in the West. With these railroads, people could travel much more quickly and more efficiently, as well as, transport goods and messages in a timely fashion to others miles away, when any other means would be unconventional or much slower, such as walking or by horseback. The railroad not only impacted the U.S. economy, but it also had a significant impact on social
All these improvements in technology like canals and new roads altered the physical landscape in America for the better but also the economy (The Market Revolution: Crash Course U.S. History #12,
All of these great inventions would help make the country more mobile and large scaled. All of these inventions are still around today and are some of the biggest things affecting
The building and growth of railroads from 1865 to 1900 played a very crucial role in American society which cannot be underemphasized. Railroads brought about many important happenings that that helped in the development of America and its people, its growth commenced the transportation of goods from one place to another thus it help people carry out business transaction in a quick and reliable way as opposed to what they were accustomed to before the railroads growth which was harder to move goods from one state to another and this caused many inconveniences that resulted to the wastage of time, capital and resources. Furthermore the growth of railroads brought about new dwelling places as people wanted to settle down in places that are connected to the railroads and that made it simpler for people to commute from place to place without wasting much time and this also brought about urbanization as people became many and this contributed to the growth of the economy and develop the country at large because people where now more than ever ready to engage in dealing with each other because
This caused America to flourish with new inventions, for example the automobile, household machinery, television, etc. Even old inventions and ideas were improving, like the radio, movies, and the use of advertising. The radio, movies, driving, and buying the various new products became a part of the daily lives. These inventions created a sense of ease for daily lives in America in the 1920s. It made life, jobs, and experiences easier.
New machines came out and new ways of energy never seen before were now being used. Steam engines were invented and could create power using water and heat. These steam engines were used in mills, boats, and now trains. And all of these new ideas meant another thing, new jobs. America now not only had rich land with bounties of food, America had thousands of new jobs opening up.
With the advent of the railroad, many of these issues disappeared. Railroads had a major impact on advancing the American economy, transforming America into a modern society, and improving an antiquated transportation system. The building of railroads created rapid economic growth in America. Railroad companies employed more than one million workers to build and maintain railroads. At the same time, coal, timber, and steel industries employed thousands of workers to provide the supplies necessary to build railroads (Chapter 12 Industrialization).
America is the place that seems to give opportunities and equal changes to all. They have more freedom than others (but not total freedom). America is a united people working together. I believe America is a place where all people have a chance to succeed in life. I also believe that in America people have the freedom to stand up for their beliefs and fight for them.
The building of roads, canals and railroads played a large role in the United States during the 1800s. They served the purpose of connecting towns and settlements so that goods could be transported quickly and more efficiently. These goods could be transported fast, cheap and in safe way through the Erie Canal that was built to connect the Great Lakes to New York. Railroads were important during Civil War as well, because it helped in the transportation of goods, supplies and weapons when necessary. These new forms of transportation shaped the United States into the place that it is today.
It affected the Industrialization by creating stepping stones for more businesses and it created jobs and opportunity for people.
The article opens by stating two ideas focused on America and the success that anyone can find there. America is a place where the opportunities are endless and all around you. The article begins accessing the outcome and balance of opportunity and the fact that although it is certainly there, it may depend on who a person is or even a person’s effort as for how successful they may become. The thesis of this article seems to be that although America might be seen as the land of opportunity; there are a lot of factors that can make it very hard to succeed here.