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.