Industrial Growth

The Civil War brought significant changes in all spheres of life; war needs stimulated manufacturing, accelerated technological innovation, emphasized new inventions and applied science. The number of inventions was remarkable – during the last quarter of the 19^th century, half a million patents were issued, and in the first quarter of the 20^th century, the number reached nearly a million. Thomas Edison alone patented over a thousand inventions, Alexander Bell invented a telephone, the typewriter, the adding machine and the cash register appeared. These and many other innovations resulted in a new level of productivity in almost every field.

Transportation network that connected distant parts of the country soon was accompanied by the communication network based on the telegraph and telephone. People settled new territories, mass immigration from abroad resulted in the growth of large enterprises – by the 20* century, the United States was not only the world's largest producer of raw materials and food, but also became the most productive industrial nation in the world.

Big booming industrial cities as Chicago, Philadelphia, Baltimore and many others attracted millions of families, who left American farms and European villages in search of better living. Many Americans believed that productivity was the key to national welfare. For example, John D. Rockefeller linked his business to a nationalistic mission, explaining that he participated in the work of making the country great.

Alongside with industrial revolution, the revolution in agriculture progressed. The farms shifted from hand labor to machine farming, agricultural production not only supplied American workers and their families, but also outstripped all previous figures in the USA.

Task 1. Speak about the tendencies of industrial society using the conjunctions so, that's why, because of, after etc.

Great involvement of work force in manufacturing creates large well-organized factories

Profits from manufacturing are invested into applied science and technical innovations, transportation (railroad network) and communication network (telegraph and telephone)

Growth of production increases capital accumulation and narrow specialization in all forms of economic activities. New manufactories with narrow specialization appear

Need for working force promotes rapid population increase and growth of the cities

Immigration in the Age of Industrial Growth

Between 1865 and 1915, about 26 million immigrants came to the United States. The number of people living in American cities exploded from 10 million to 54,3 million. Urban newcomers arrived from two major sources – the American countryside and Europe. The pattern of immigration also changed – if until the 1890s, most of immigrants came from northern and western Europe, after 1890, they mostly arrived from southern and eastern Europe, Mexico and China. Most immigrants did not intend to stay – nearly one third left the country after earning a particular sum of money.

The majority of immigrants settled in the northeastern and northcentral states. In 1890, New York City contained twice as many Irish as Dublin, as many Germans as Hamburg, and half as many Italians as Naples. Besides, four people out of five living in New York had been born abroad or were children of foreign parents.

All prospective immigrants from Europe had first to travel to Hamburg, where they booked a passage on the steam ship. After a long journey across the Atlantic immigrants arrived tired, fearful, and sometimes very sick. Before they were allowed to enter the country they were inspected at the Ellis Island for physical handicaps and diseases. If they had no serious problems, a custom officer had their names recorded. As it was difficult to pronounce a foreign name, many names were anglicized.

Most immigrants arriving at that period came to the New York Harbor, past the Stature of Liberty inviting them to go through the "golden door". From 1901 to 1917, up to 5,000 immigrants were checked in at the Ellis Island every day. Now, it's a museum.

The influx of so many immigrants transformed the US from a basically Protestant nation into a society of Protestants, Catholics and Jews by 1920. Most of newcomers learned English and adopted many American customs; they also preserved their own traditions and identity. Little by little some of these traditions became a part of American culture.