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Transforming America

In: Historical Events

Submitted By Pass77
Words 1391
Pages 6
The Civil War was the catalysis for transforming America into the industrialized capital of the world and forever changing the American landscape and the people.
The Civil War “as destructive as it was”, laid the foundation for Americas’ future success.
I. Three influences between 1865 and 1920 that affected America A. The Industrial Revolution took place over more than a century however, the period from 1859-1873 has been characterized as the most fruitful and dense in innovations in American history (Mowery and Rosenberg, 1989, pg2). The growth was astounding. America, during this period was characterized by seemingly boundless economic expansion and the emergence as new world power. War needs had enormously stimulated manufacturing, speeding an economic process based on the exploitation of iron, steam, and electric power, as well as the forward march of science and invention. In the years before 1860, 36,000 patents were granted; in the next 30 years, 440,000 patents were issued, and in the first quarter of the 20th century, the number reached nearly a million. (Dickenson). B. Industry existed in the United States prior to the Civil War but agriculture had represented the most significant portion of the American economy. After the war, small businesses grew larger. The facilities that were built by the opposing Civil War forces to support their war effort were now being revitalized. Most factories were purchased by local businessmen throughout the North and South and transformed into large textile operations where any numbers of goods were manufactured. These factories employed thousands of laborers. (ushistory.org) C. Following the war, most Americans’ thought that they would return to their former way of living, they were wrong! America and Americans would be changed forever. The agricultural state that once was the staple of the

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