Term Paper on "U.S. History America as a Nation"

Term Paper 5 pages (1328 words) Sources: 3 Style: APA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

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… READ MORE

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