The economic and industrial developments of the 19th century brought with them significant social, economic and cultural changes. The Lowell National Park provides a history of these developments. Some of the history includes farm-to-factory transitions, history of immigrant labor, history of development of social classes and emergence of America’s industrial technology. Interaction with a staff member at the museum helped me have a better understanding of the social, economic and cultural changes that were brought about by 19th century industrialization.
Development of towns was one of the social changes that was experienced during the industrial revolution. Many people from the rural areas migrated to towns to look for jobs. Most of these people were unskilled workers and the effect of this is that the initial years of industrial revolution resulted in high rates of unemployment. The few workers could not set their terms of employment meaning that there were poor working conditions in the different factories. In addition, many of the workers could not afford decent housing meaning that industrial revolution resulted in sprawling of crowded settlements and slums. The high standards of living in cities reduced the quality of life of many people. The other social change is that workers could no longer spend their time in recreation. This is because they spent most of their time in the factories.
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One of the economic changes that was experienced during the industrial revolution is that machines replaced humans as the traditional methods of production. This resulted in increased output from the factories because machines were faster and more efficient. The other economic change is the arrival of capitalism. Industrial revolution also led to development of social classes within the society based on an individual’s networth. The upper classes comprised of people who owned capital as factor of production. The lower classes comprised of the masses and factory workers. Capitalism concentrated the society’s wealth at the hands of a few industrialists. In addition, the fortunes of the industrialists depended much on the fluctuations within the consumer market. As has been mentioned, the industrial revolution led to poor living and working conditions for the masses. The workers therefore formed labor unions in order to push for the benefit and reform of the working conditions. This resulted in workers engaging in different forms of industrial actions such as strikes and go slows, some of which were violent and resulted in loss of production time.
Previously before the industrial revolution, women were not allowed to work in factories. The traditional role of women was that they be mothers to the children and wives to the husbands. One of the cultural changes of industrial revolution is that women were allowed to work in factories. Women worked mainly in the textile industry. As has been mentioned, industrial revolution resulted in development of social classes in the society. Specifically the middle class grew during this time. The middle class had extra income which allowed them to visit movie theatres among other entertainment joints. The other social change occurred within the family. As more and more women took up factory work, the size of the average families reduced. This is because women also focused on their careers and advancement.
In conclusion, the industrial revolution brought with it social, economic and cultural changes. These changes can be seen from the Lowell National Park. The changes are related to one another. Industrial revolution resulted in movement of farmers from the rural areas to towns to search for jobs. This increased the population in towns and cities creating overcrowding and proliferation of slums. Industrialization also led to development of capitalism that differentiated those who owned the means of production and those who worked in the factories.
- Brownson, O. Augustus. (1840). The laboring classes: an article from the Boston quarterly review. Boston: B. H. Greene.
