Industrialization after the Civil War Assignment

Industrialization after the Civil War - Assignment Example As the report stresses the exhaustion of the war, ironically, created an atmosphere of peace. This gave vent to the entrepreneurial aspirations of the citizens. But the opportunities were not uniform or equitable. The privileged White Anglo-Saxon Protestant (WASP) community, which owned most of the properties, continued its economic and social dominance. It was this preordained economic privilege for the community that would give rise to such great industrialists as Henry Ford, John Rockefeller, etc. These luminaries were the first great capitalists of the country. Indeed they would develop great companies like Standard Oil and Ford Motor Company, which would supersede in scale and revenues even some older establishments in Europe.From this paper it is clear that the rapid pace of industrial growth had a major socio-cultural impact. It affected the life of the average working American in many different ways. The most important change they witnesses is the transformation of the mode o f livelihood from independent small-farmers to wage-earning factory workers. In fact, the late 19th century labor press was saturated with discussions on such fundamental changes. This transformation was not a smooth and swift process at all. Most small farmers put their independence ahead of job security. They moreover perceived receiving wages from a capitalist master as a slur on their dignity.