Industrialization and Captains of Industry

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Student Question

How did the Industrial Revolution impact life differently in the North and the South?

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The Industrial Revolution impacted life differently in the North and the South. In the South, it reinforced the agrarian economy and increased the demand for slaves due to the cotton gin. The South remained rural with little industry. In contrast, the North saw significant industrial growth, leading to rapid urbanization, overcrowded living conditions, and poor working environments in factories. This highlighted the growing regional differences.

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Life became different in the North and the South during the Industrial Revolution. The South had always been a farming region. This continued during the Industrial Revolution. Most southerners were farmers. With the invention of the cotton gin, the demand for and use of slaves increased significantly. The South remained predominately rural during this time. Slavery was now more important than ever in the South. There was not a lot of industry in the South at this time.

In the North, the Industrial Revolution changed life significantly. Many factories formed, and more people began to work in them. This led to the rapid growth of cities. The city governments weren’t able to keep up with the growth. People lived in overcrowded apartments, called tenements, and crime, disease, and pollution increased. Political corruption increased as political machines stepped in to help people with their needs. People who worked in factories also found themselves working very long hours. The pay was low, the working conditions were poor, and there was no relationship between workers, managers, and owners. Cities did offer more things to do. However, for most factory workers, life basically revolved around work and family.

The Industrial Revolution helped to highlight the growing differences between the North and the South in the 1800s.

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