The Impact Of Technology In The 1920s

From 1865 to 1920, technological innovations helped to simplify lives by providing more efficient tools to complete work, but also proved to hurt the workers and create economic hardship. With the civil war coming to an end and reconstruction beginning, America was emerging one of the world's industrial leaders. Our influential industries, such as the oil industry, controlled mainly by John D Rockefler, became increasingly influential around the world. Between 1856 and 1920, technological advancements made both rural and urban life easier by supplying more effective ways to do work, although this also was the cause of economic hardship. Technology had both positive and negative impacts on everyone, but the impacts were felt most prominently

Bonanza farms utilized large machinery and hired many workers to work on the farms. Barbed wire helped to expand farms on the Great Planes and Improved irrigation systems helped farmers combat droughts. Despite all the new technology, Railroads continued to be impactful at the time. Railroads helped to encourage western settlement and new Rail lines produced new towns, allowing farmers to settle in new areas. The railroads facilitated the western migration, by providing cheap and easy transportation. Many of the people who moved west during this time settled to grow and sell cash crops, such as wheat or corn. Railroads also increased shipping, opening farmers to a much wider market than they previously had, connecting farmers, and their farms, to a larger market. The transcontinental railroad, completed in 1869, linked the east railways to California's railways, improving the transportation to the west. On the other hand, railroads were monopolistic and often charged farmers unfair prices for their services. Small farmers sought regulation on the railroads, and claimed that the railroads charged them higher rates. New technology during this time helped farmers and made farming easier and more efficient, but these also hurt farmers

There was a rise in the labor movement and pressure for better working conditions and fair wages to improve the lives of workers. During this time factory work hours increased and the pay decreased. The Homestead Strike, in 1892, occurred at Carnegie's Steel Factories, where the workers demanded a more fair pay. Factories now focused on mass production and there was a decrease in the need for skilled workers. Production methods, such as the assembly line, were commonly used, but were extremely repetitive for workers. New technology increased production but also made work more dangerous. It was common for workers to get caught and injured or killed in machines. Innovations in transportation allowed for better distribution of products. This resulted in more products available and less expensive products. Advances in food production, such as canned meat or pasteurized milk, made malnutrition, especially in factory workers, less common. The rise in mass entertainment changed the social lives of workers. Movies, dance halls, and sporting events catered to entertain the working class. While technological innovations had both positive and negative impacts on the working class, the negative impacts were greater and increased hardships for factory