Industrial Growth Dbq

During the period of 1860-1900, there were many factors that helped to promote America’s industrial growth. With railroads increasing commerce, a large supply of necessary resources: coal, iron, and water, help from the supportive government, and a large wave of new immigrants it really was irresistible to not turn into a much more mechanized country. Once the 20th century was upon us, America was one of the greatest industrial nations in the World. Industrialization is what has led this country to be as successful as we know it today. As shown in Document 2, in 1860, there were less than 40,000 miles of railroad track. This number continued to increase. In 1900, there were more than 190,000 miles of railroad track. Railroads helped to transport goods from factory to consumer more efficiently, which decreased the cost of the product for the consumer. The availability of manufactured goods and food increased because the railroad provided quick transportation. Also, accessibility to railroads made receiving certain products you might not have

Once they did not have control of the presidency anymore, bourbon democrats did. Bourbon democrats were pro business, they believed in “laizzes-faire.” This meant that the high tariffs would no longer be in place. Although, they did support banking and the construction of railroads which continued to accelerate industrialism. During this time period, not only was America experiencing a lot of industrialization, we were also experiencing lots of immigration to the United States. A majority of the reason why many immigrants were attracted to the U.S was because we were industrializing so successfully. They needed jobs, and the US was able to supply that to them. In Document 6, it shows that immigration in the 1860s was below 2.3 million, and this number continued to increase until it was 9 million in the