Friday, February 26, 2010
Post Civil War industry packet
While you read the packet on post CW industry, answer the following question on the blog: in what ways were pre-Civil War industry different than post CW industry? Cite at least two examples and in addition post a second comment that responds to your classmates. Enjoy your three day weekend!
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Post CW industry differed from pre-CW industry in that business was dominated by fewer more powerful men. Before the civil war the entrepreneurial spirit drove people to find a new way of doing something, or discover a new niche in the expanding market. However, after the Civil War, entrepreneurs became more interested in expanding their power by means of establishing monopolies over a sector of the economy. For example, Vanderbilt tried to consolidate entire railroad networks under his business.
ReplyDeletePost Civil War Industry was also much more concerned with technological advancements. For example, engineers like Thomas Edison and Alexander Bell were able to amass great fortunes through innovative creations such as the electric light bulb and telephone. Furthermore, men like Henry Ford and Taylor attempted to quicken the manufacturing process by re-thinking traditional means of production.
Before the Civil War, entrepreneurs and buisiness men were the most successful. Along with that, many Americans focused on agriculture as a main source of income. After the Civil War, America became less reliant on argriculture and focused on drilling oil and mining coal and other metals. Also, more and more inventions came to be after the Civil War, which helped America advance globally as well.
ReplyDeleteBefore the civil war industries made things everyday people would buy like textiles. However, After the civil war new industries created to keep up with the progression of technology. For example the steel industry was created to build new machines and inventions, and the oil industry which was created to fuel these new inventions.
ReplyDeleteAlso after the civil war, workers created unions so they would have more rights than the girls from Lowell, even though working conditions were still unacceptable.
i agree with Chris, after the civil war the most successful enterpreneurs became extremely wealthy while the rest were left behind as working class heroes(thats something to be)
ReplyDeleteRicky brings up a good point about how the market for factories was much more diverse after the civil war. These new industries were cyclical in many regards. A factory would produce a good, then a new factory would be required to supply the first factory with machines, and so the cycle continues. Such a situation demonstrates the growing complexity of the American economy, that enabled it to become a superpower so quickly.
ReplyDeleteFollowing the conclusion of the Civil War, destruction may have penetrated villages and the land, however, economically America grew. Post-Civil War, the United States’ economy was stronger, increasing the wealth and improving the lives of many Americans, however this cannot be taken as an universal statement. After the Civil War, industrial titans and the middle class enjoyed prosperity; however, workers and farmers experienced tough times. This change in power signaled America’s transition towards an economic and political crisis.
ReplyDeleteThe first thing however, was that the government encouraged creativity. Pre-Civil War the government had only granted 36,000 patents. From 1860 to 1890, that number rose to 440,000. This drove the innovating spirit, especially in the field of communications. In 1866, the entrepreneur Cyrus W. Field laid a transatlantic telegraph cable to Europe, in the 1870s Alexander Graham Bell developed the first useful telephone, in 1868 Christopher Sholes created the typewriter, and in the 1870s electricity was introduced as a source of light and power. This entrepreneurship that grew in the States changed the economy as it sped up business communications and organizations. It also changed the focus of the economy from an agricultural and manufacturing based workforce, to one interested in investing in the future.
The economy following the Civil War also differed as new industries were created, including the steel industry in western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio. This industry expanded exponentially that Americans were forced to find new sources of ore. The oil industry also emerged following the Civil War because the steel industry needed fuel for the machines. Demand for petroleum grew and oil soon became an important export for the United States. Later, the car industry boomed, becoming a major force in the economy. As compared to pre-Civil War, the post-war economy was greatly focused on finding new industries that could make profits from trade on a global scale.
I agree with Tyler that after the Civil War, America became less reliant on argriculture and more focused on drilling oil and mining coal. However, I disagree with her statement that entrepreneurship decreased. In fact, people were looking for new businesses to profit off, including the emergence of new technologies and the discovery of new materials. Although the entrepreneurship differed from pre-Civil War, as before it focused on small businesses, the spirit of private business did not disappear following the Civil War. Rather business men tried to expand their new businesses throughout the nation, and in somecases throughout the world.
ReplyDeleteIn the times before the civil war the industries produced things very differently and produced many different things. Pre war textiles were the main thing produced. However, after the war the assembly line was created and many different things were produced along with textiles. Also other industries were created post war such as the oil industry. The industry also changed due to the great technological advances allowed for things such as telephone, typewriter, and the automobile were able to be massed produced
ReplyDeleteI think Tyler brings up a good point about the inventions that were created after the civil war. I also think that Ricky and Chris bring up good points about the success level for entrepreneurs post war.
ReplyDeletePre civil war industry was mostly owned my one single entrepreneur, family, or small group of stockholders. And as Tyler said, much of the country was still focused on agriculture and not on industry. After the Civil War, industry was filled with new inventions such as the telegraph andlightbulb. And mining and the refining or metals became the backbone of industry.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Hope about the assembly lines producng new things like cars because the car was invented after the Civil War and people wanted to make money by selling a lot of product and quickly.
ReplyDeleteIn the antebellum era, much of the industry within America was focused on simply creating new machines and production methods to increase output and make life easier. The cotton gin, for example, made picking cotton much simpler and more efficient. Post-war, however, many entrepreneurs began to focus on finding ways to make an optimal profit off of innovation, which in turn sparked new kinds of creativity. Businessmen found ways to reduce costs buy simply buying everything and forming monopolies. Others formed huge conglomerates to eliminate competition. Along with the problems faced with having to essentially reorganize half the country's economy, inventions still continued to improve living conditions for Americans everywhere.
ReplyDeleteChris M made great connections between his ideas and some important figures of the era. Nice job.
ReplyDeleteThe pre war American economy was predominantly made up of a larger amount of moderately powerful businessmen and entreprenuers whereas the post war era economy was dominated by fewer and more powerful tycoons such as Carnegie with his steel corporation and Rockefeller with oil. The typical entrepreneur of this era would set out to gain large monopolies of increasingly larger parts of the market.
ReplyDeleteAs the country continued to industrialise in The Second Industrial Revolution railroads were greatly expanded across the nation, mass production began to become a standard for large manufacturing corporations, and newer inventions greatly helped the progress of the economy. Mining of iron ore increased and the drilling of oil became popular with its discovery in Pennslyvannia. The access to these increasingly valuable resources prompted the development of new steel mills. This era laid out the foundation for the modern American economy.
Before the Civil War, there was a lack of technology and motivation for business pursuits. That all changed afterwards though when more people began to try expanding their power. The Post Civil War era was all about technological advancements. New innovations were introduced such as transatlantic telegraph cable, telephone, typewriter, cash register, electricity and etc. New industries emerged such as the steel and oil industries. America seemed to flourish more and become much more advanced than its pre-civil war time.
ReplyDeleteI like how Carly mentioned the government pushed for creativity. I definitely think this was one of the main factors for all the new innovations that emerged during Post Civil War time.
ReplyDeleteThe industries of pre-Civil War America and post-Civil War America differ dramatically. In the pre-Civil War days, economic power was relatively spread out, being shared by several entrepreneurs and businessmen. The primary focus for advancing America was the flourishing of businesses and the economy. Also, most of the products made were more for everyday use (such as textiles) than for new inventions or innovations. On the contrary, the post-Civil War era focused more on creativity and inventions to improve society (primarily technology) such as Thomas Edison and the lightbulb and Alexander Graham Bell and the telephone. Additionally, the nature of the post-Civil War industry consisted of less spread out power than that of the pre-Civil War days. Rather than being spread out among many entrepreneurs, power rested in the hands of a few very powerful businessmen who gained their power by monopolizing industries. In my opinion, the post-Civil War era was much more crucial to the development of the US, and it is in fact similar in some ways to our own 21st century society. Our society places a lot of importance on the creation of new technology and inventions. The creation of new machines and devices has become a big component of our economy, and our everyday lives.
ReplyDeleteI like how Joe brought up mining and its increasing popularity after the Civil War. It's a good point about the post-Civil War economy that I forgot to include in my previous post.
ReplyDeleteBefore the civil war, the economies of the northeast, northwest, and south differed tremendously. The northeastern economy was focused around industrial and urban centers, where factories produced finished products like textiles and furniture. The Northwest catered to its own needs, utilizing vast fields for crops. Transportation hubs produced large cities of people moving westward from the NorthEast. A good transportation system of railroads permeated the entire country, allowing goods, people, and ideas to travel rapidly from one end to the other. This allowed the south to transport its crops and raw materials to the North, fueling the industry there.
ReplyDeleteAfter the civil war, much of the east remained tarnished by battles, and the Reconstruction Era began. Now that slavery was (basically) settled, the South was forced to re-design its economy. Without slave labor, it could not produce as many crops, and was forced to advance technologically to meet its needs. However, the entire country advanced together, in its own ways. Innovation was the key to the economic climate of the time, and the government pushed for such creativity. New inventions and machines made both industrial processes and everyday life easier. Electric light-bulbs and the telephone became household commodities. Power within the economy, however, rested within the hands of several monopolizing businessmen, where it had previously been more evenly spread. The Edison Illuminating Company and Bell Telephones lead the way for its respective products. The railroad industry was dominated by the Vanderbilts, and steel mining was by the Carnegies. Standard Oil soon took over all oil wells and production, and was controlled by the Rockefellers. These industries were fueled by the need for such raw materials (and their transportation) for the new inventions. This sentiment of constant advancement still exists today, with the development of new technology at the forefront of economy.
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ReplyDeleteOH MY GOD! EXCUSE MY EXCITEMENT, BUT I FINALLY GOT IT TO WORK AFTER 45 MINUTES!!! BUT NOOO! IT POSTED 3 TIMES! Sorry about that. How do I get rid of them?
ReplyDelete.........anyway......
Hope brought up good examples of several different inventions of the era, and methods of production, like the assembly line.
In general, I like how everyone was more concise in answering than I was.
After the civil war, america had to rebuild it's economy. Although itwas difficult at first itwasdifficult because the south was so torn apart becauseof the war, industry eventuallypicked up as both inventors and businesmen continued an American legacy of creativity. People beganto take advantage of somewhat lax laws to form monopolies over commodities and inventions. Growing forms of communication and transportation continued to allow creative people to reach and influence eachother and llow for more change and growth.
ReplyDeleteI agree with gallagher because she makes a logic good comparisons between pre and post civil war.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Chris that several changes occured after the civil war. Although America still relied on cotton and argiculture, it definately took a back seat as more focused was placed on industrialization.
ReplyDeletePost Civil War industry differed from pre- Civil War industry in that the post CW industry became more refined. Industrialization was expanded and there was more mass production. Before the civil war industries produced everyday goods such as crops and textiles. Industrialization was just beginning; there was still a strong focus on agriculture and most businesses were family owned.
ReplyDeleteAfter the Civil War industry developed immensely. The urgent need for battle weapons lead to rapid advances in manufacturing and machinery. Industrialization was taking place much faster along with the idea of advancing technology. Also, there were new sources of raw materials such as oil and iron ore. People began utilizing material resources. One of the most important aspects of post civil war industry was that it brought more industry into the south after the war.
I like how Hope brought up that after the war the assembly line was created and that there were many new inventions. It helps show what a big difference there was between the two time periods and how quickly technology was advancing during the post civil war industry.
ReplyDeletePre-Civil War industry had a wider focus on agriculture, whereas Post Civil War industry was based more on technological advances and mass production. Entrepreneurs and American creativity formed and strengthed after the Civil War, allowing for new businesses and industries to strenghten the economy by supplying more goods and a bigger variety. Also, the strong focus on agriculture before the war evolved (during and after the war)into rapidly increasing industries that supplied weapons and other military goods that were in desperate need.
ReplyDeleteIn the pre-civil war era, different regions of the United States relied on different sources of economic gain. The Northeastern economy was based on the textile and furniture manufacturing industry, and transportation. The Northwest focused on developing products that would satisfy most residents of the regions needs. These needs included land for farming and transportation oppurtunities. Lastly the Southern economy was most dominantly based around agriculture.
ReplyDeleteIn the post civil war era, every region of the United States underwent various changes in their means of economic gain. Most exclusively, was the South. With the freeing of approximately four million slaves, it became significantly more difficult and expensive to solely rely on agriculture. As for the ohter regions, capitalism, and competition in the business world grew immensely. It was in the post civil war era, where the world witnessed the emergence of legendary entrepreneurs such as Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, and Carnegie. Innovations became an extremely popular way to get rich in the United States. In this era, some of the most influential inventions of all time were created. These inventions include the telephone, the lightbulb, and the typewriter.
I like how Brianna brought up the point about the shift in the focus on certain natural resources. After the Civil War, post war industries were more based on the use of iron ore and oil.
ReplyDeleteI like how Tracy recognizes the demand for rebuilding after the Civil War.
ReplyDeletePre Civil war, there were some inventions, but not to the extent that there were Post-war. It's true that before the war they had railroads and they became more interconnected and such.. but after the war, the people worked on innovation and making things even better and more efficient. Because they had to reconstruct the south after the war, it was the perfect time for coming up with new things to make life easier. For example, they refined iron to make steel and made faster trains.
ReplyDeleteThe Pre-Civil War industry was far different from the post civil war industry. The Pre-Civil war industrty consisted of regional specialization and trading goods between the west, south, and northeast. It consisted mostly of agriculture and the only real use of technology was the use of the railroad to transport goods to and from the different regions. However the post civil war industry consisted of entrepeneurship and innovation. In the post civil war industry there was a growing steel industry to replace iron and there was a growing oil industry to fuel new innovations and for the distillment of alcohol. Also after the civil war, the government promoted entrepeneurship and innovation by increasing the quota of pattents given to inventors. All and all, post civil war was mainly about the progression of technology in the fields of the pre-civil war industry.
ReplyDeletei agree with christina's comment on the progression of innovation and efficiency in the post civil war industry. A perfect expample of this is McCormick's post-cw invention,mechanical reaper that has the primary objective of improving the wheat industry, which is a pre civil war industry.
ReplyDeleteAfter the civil war, america had to rebuild it's economy. It was very difficult at first because the south was so torn apart due to the war. Industry eventually picked up as both inventors and businesmen continued an American legacy of creativity. Some of the new inventions included, the telegraph and lightbulb. And mining and the refining or metals became the backbone of industry. People beganto take advantage of somewhat lax laws to form monopolies over commodities and inventions. Growing forms of communication and transportation continued to allow creative people to reach and influence eachother and allow for more change and growth.
ReplyDelete