Eva,K_Industrialization

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Grand Canyon University *

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HIS 144

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History

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Apr 3, 2024

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docx

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Name: Eva Kuechenmeister HIS-144: The Development of the American Economy Directions: Respond to the five questions below using resources from the Topic 4 Readings, including your textbook, materials provided by your instructor through class discussion, and materials from the GCU Library Guide for HIS-144 US History Themes. While APA style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources should be presented using APA formatting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. Proof of research is needed for each answer. Wikipedia, Ask.com, ehow.com and other online information sites, encyclopedias, or dictionaries are not considered university academic sources and are NOT TO BE USED . 1. Explain Henry Clay’s American System. (50-100 words) The American System was Henry Clay's plan to centralize trading, taxes, and agriculture within American in order to establish economic independence within the US. Making the US more self-sufficient and wealthy, this plan originated from the Democratic-Republican party which particularly liked the Jefferson era of government, but with additional factors such as a larger government. Led by Henry Clay, the group wanted to create internal improvements, like roads and more advanced systems like a national bank, as well as smaller banks and security. (U.S. Senate, 2023) 2. Discuss America’s transportation revolution in the first half of the 1800s. Briefly cover the importance of roads, canals, railroads, and steamboats to the young nation’s economy. (100-200 words) The American Transportation Revolution was a highlight in America’s history. This was when Americans created roads, canals, railroads, and boats to establish consistent trade and communication throughout the US and beyond. The first portion of the 1800s, the 1810s was the “Turnpike era.” Turnpikes were newly developed privately owned roads that contained tolls. Next, was the “Canal era” in the 1820s. Canals extending east to west enabled a better option for traveling with trading goods; it was faster and more cost-effective. By the 1830s, steamboats were responsible for transporting goods across the country. Soon after, between 1840 and 1850 was the Railroad era which would become a peak of American transportation, defying the odds of water (cold weather and end points.) By the 1860s there were 30k miles of railroad tracks, (Schultz, Kevin (2018, 2016.) 3. Identify two major industries of America’s Industrial Revolution after the Civil War. What made the men who controlled them so successful? (150-200 words) 1
After the Civil War two of the largest industries established were the steel and oil industries. Andrew Carnegie led the industrialization of steel using the Bessemer process created by Sir Henry Bessemer. Allowing steel to be manufactured at a much faster pace, Carneige brought this idea back to the US and established a steel plant. John D. Rockefeller led the industrialization of oil. By reducing the cost of his oil, out selling all other competitors, Rockefeller was able to dominate the oil industry. Both men used strategies like vertical and horizontal integration which required all steel and oil manufacturing to be under the eye of themselves, leaving out third parties and making it impossible for these parties to thrive independently. Monopolies also played a major role in the success of both men. Also known as harmful business practices at the time, monopolization was the practice of establishing control of the market in whichever industry they saw fit. In this case, oil and steel. Rockefeller and Carnegie utilized this practice to take over and create benefits that were mostly personal but overall created great wealth for the US. They paid low wages, hired unskilled workers, and offered unsafe working conditions. Later leading to the development of corporate America. (Digital History, S. M. (n.d.) 4. Explain the origins and growth of early labor unions in the United States. In what way did they change America? (150-200 words) Unions fought hard for the rights and health for the people. In the beginning of the working America, there were little laws to protect the safety and security for them. Overtime their needs became apparent and also terrifyingly ignored. They were forced to stand up for themselves creating hope, the fight was well-deserved, (Digital History, S. M. (n.d.) After many union failures, the American Federation of Labor quickly became popular in the US. The AFL offered something different than other unions, called craft unions. Offering different options, such as craft unions unlike other labor unions, it attracted a vast variety of people. This union still allowed its members to make their own choices and ensured that the union remained one even though there were branches. There were many issues within the work environments for the workers. One of the biggest issues was excruciating labor for long hours with low pay and no safety. Many unions pushed for eight-hour workdays to create a better work-life balance but were unsuccessful. However, the AFL was able to get further than other unions. Forever changing the US, the 8-hour workday was first established in 1890 starting with cigar makers in the union. 2
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