Impacts of Industrialization
Feb 23, 2016
Impacts of Industrialization
Percentage Distribution of the World's Manufacturing Production, 1870 and 1913 (percentage of world total)
1870 1913
USA 23.3 35.8
Germany 13.2 15.7
U.K. 31.8 14.0
France 10.3 6.4
Russia 3.7 5.5
Italy 2.4 2.7
Canada 1.0 2.3
Belgium 2.9 2.1
Sweden 0.4 1.0
Japan 1.2
India 11.0 1.1
Other Countries 12.2
Rural and Urban Populations
Employment of Workers/Real Wages
Real Annual Wages 1820-1940
Social Impacts• Social Darwinism—based on natural
selection (strong will survive)• Economy—Strongest businesses will succeed
and weakest businesses will naturally fail (natural law). No government intervention like the Sherman Antitrust Act and Interstate Commerce Act
• Society—Justified wealth and rationalized poverty (rich=strong, poor=weak/lazy)
• Horatio Alger
Robber Baronsa. Negative view of “captains of
industry.” Robber barons made millions, while workers made little and competition was destroyed.
b. To try to change this view, Carnegie, Rockefeller, and Morgan made large contributions to various charities.
c. Carnegie—Wealth and Its Uses
Education• More opportunities became
available• Government required schooling• Reduction in child labor• More higher education
opportunities too
Leisure Time• Middle class develops• More disposable income• Amusement parks, baseball,
movies, etc.