Technological Changes In The Early 1900s

When people mention the industrial revolution, many think of the early 1900s when the surge of new technologies and industrial improvements began. From the changes in the technological use of materials like iron and steel that opened up new markets to new jobs and a booming economy, the United States was a force to be reckoned with. People reminisce with great pride on a time when the United States became a powerhouse of one-third of the global products used internationally. However, with good comes bad and a major issue that still affects us today is the depletion of natural resources. While technological improvement opened up new markets they are also the reason for environmental destruction and irreversible damage. All of these effects have

All of these opened up new opportunities for labor and economic expansion. According to the American Yawp, chapter 18, on his visit to Chicago in 1889, British author Rudyard Kipling saw a city emerging with new technologies and was “blinded by greed.” As Kipling visited hotels, he saw they were “crammed with people talking about money, and spitting everywhere.” He visited extravagant churches and spoke with their congregants, Kipling comments, “I listened to people who said that the mere fact of spiking down strips of iron to wood and getting a steam and iron thing to run along them was progress, that the telephone was progress, and the network of wires overhead was a progress (qtd. in The American Yawp). This conveys that the early 1900s were a period of neglect of future environmental issues in the hopes of gaining momentary success: a better life. However, that's not to say the laborers and immigrants are at fault, the responsibility falls back on the government, which was only involved when it benefited it and refused to have a real role until it was too

This would also support the expansion of the railroad system and other developments that would help boost the economy. Monopolies that were also occurring during this period prevented government legislation that could solve the issue from passing, which also occurs today. James Parker, who has a master's in Sustainability, notes that 19th and 20th-century technologies are outdated for society. It can be controversial and challenging to suggest modern changes since Industries have made it difficult due to lobbyists who prevent the passing of updated technology legislation. This is detrimental to our way of living and our ecosystems because most of our technology is fueled by nonrenewable resources(Parker). However, the United States government is not the only country at fault. According to OECD f material consumption of G7 countries has flattened out while increasing GDP since 1980, the world continues to increase both (Kawaguchi). Although the United States government has found ways to maintain its material consumption level from rising, other countries' material consumption keeps rising so if a soulution is to be made, it needs to be a group