How did industrialization impact the working class?
Kiarra Koelpin
2025-05-01 08:12:43
Count answers: 4
Wealth was held by very few at the top of American society. This concentrated economic power seemed undemocratic and problematic to many Americans. Social class divisions were exacerbated, which seemed to violate what many thought were American principles of equality. With the introduction of mechanization and the assembly line in a factory setting, the system of production was increasingly subdivided into smaller tasks. These tasks demanded less skilled workers. Workers became like the machines they used. Many workers felt they lost control over their work process, and felt dislocated and alienated from their work. Many critics began asking if factory work was at odds with human nature. Employers wanted to cut costs to maximize profits, and a key way was to cut labor’s wages. Working-class families often found it hard to make ends meet. Overall, wages in the era did increase – but the Cost of Living also increased. The average annual wages for a family of 4 in 1890 were $380, yet the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that the subsistence income for a family of 4 was $530. Workers were not sharing in the new wealth being created by industrial capitalism. Long hours and unsafe working conditions were also prevalent, with little attention to safety measures and abundant industrial accidents.
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