How did industrialization affect social development in America from 1776-1836?
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There are many things that can be defined as aspects of social development. Many of them were affected by industrialization in this time period. Let us look at a few of them.
First, industrialization affected the nature of work. Before industrialization, work was something that was linked very closely to home and family. It was done at home with, typically, the whole family being involved. It was done at the pace that the family chose or that nature demanded. As the US industrialized, work changed. It came to be detached from home and family. Work was now something done away from home and on one’s own. It was done at the pace that the machines and the factory owners required. This was a major social change.
Second, industrialization affected sex roles in society. This was when the idea of “separate spheres” for men and women gathered steam. As paid work was detached from home, people came to think that men should leave the home to make money while women stayed in the home and did domestic chores. This helped to build the idea that the public sphere should belong only to men.
These were two very profound aspects of social development that were impacted by industrialization during the time period in question.
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