Saturday, October 27, 2007

The Division of Labor and the Factory

In attempting to keep up with British competition, factories became more modernized. There were more machines doing the work that used to be done by several workers. This made the laborers in America worth much less. The first strategy of the Americans was to make improved replicas of British machines to replace workers, and the second was to find less expensive workers. This resulted in men losing their jobs to machines, and many more to women and children. This gave women a new sense of freedom and autonomy and made American products available at lower costs, taking business from the British market. Overall did the good outweigh the bad in this situation? Was the improvement on the American economy worth the growing division of classes, and was it fair to the American people?

12 comments:

Whitney Widener said...

I think the advent of factories in the US was a good thing. First of all, industrialization is what made America the world super-power it is today. Also, with factories eventually came unions, and this helped to improve the working conditions as well as pay and benefits for many workers. The fact that it allowed women to enter the workforce is also a good thing, because this advanced women's independence.

lm2gray said...

I do belive that this action was for the better. It helped women gain independence and it helped the lower class gain some wealth.

Kristina Kyles said...

I feel that what took place was for the better and made America what it is today. Our country would not be where it is today without industrialization. Also, this action helped women to gain rights and independence.

Sara L said...

The good does outway the bad. Even though many people lost jobs, it gave women a a chance and a sense of belonging and that they were needed too. Industrialization would have happened eventually

Whitney Gilliland said...

I think that the advent of factories in the uS was both a good thing and a bad thing. On the one hand, it allowed US economy to grow. The bad thing was that it set a precedence for child abuse in America. Even though women were able to get jobs, they were abused as well.

Candice Carmichael said...

I agree that the industrialization of the US was for the better. It gave women more independence, helped the lower classes and improved working conditions. Without industrialization, America would not be the super-power it is today.

Jared Flewelling said...

I think that the move to factories and the boon that it gave the economy were a good thing. Even though the human cost was great, it eventually evened out.

Jared Flewelling said...

I think that the move to factories and the boon that it gave the economy were a good thing. Even though the human cost was great, it eventually evened out.

Adam Brown said...

The way factories were very importanat in the united states for creating a strong economy that is stll seen toaday. This furthered that idea that Americans were not born rich but became rich through hard work which can be seen through the industrial revolution.

Sara L said...

I don't think division of the classes was necessarily that horrible of a thing. It created more diversity. It helped many women and African Americans as well.

kasey5 said...

I think in order to make certain progress for a certain amount of time things will not be good for the people but in the end it was a major advancement for the U.S.

mikecw23 said...

This shows the evolution of modern technology. Even though people lost jobs, it increased our output and increased the amount of money the United States was able to make.