History course: Civil war--present period Who do you think gained the most from industrialization? The least? How did the inequality lead to social tensions?
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History course: Civil war--present period Who do you think gained the most from industrialization? The least? How did the inequality lead to social tensions? The gap between rich and working-class people working too long hours with low pay. (Make sure that you are posting original examples - you will need to review your classmates' ideas). 300 words minimum. one classmate's idea: I personally believe that the wealthier, middle-class/upper-class whites gained the most from the industrialization, in terms of assets and a comfortable life. These white collar workers were typically attracted to the new suburbanized way of living. They were able to afford electric street cars that took them on a 10-15 minute drive in to the city where their job was. They enjoyed a large amount of space and non-grimy environment that the suburbs offered as opposed to the city. The people who benefited the least were the immigrants, and even those who came from other parts of the United States, such as African Americans.
These people were treated with disrespect just because they were immigrants or not a part of the “supreme race.” Many people looked down upon the “new” immigrants specifically because they seemed to be especially stuck in their ways, compared to “old” immigrants. This inequality led to social tensions between the white people and the immigrants, with the whites trying to pass laws specifically against the Chinese with the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. This act seemed to be replicated through countries like Australia and Canada, as they passed laws making it difficult for the Chinese to immigrate to their country.
Tensions also intensified the divide in the workplace. Many immigrants and African Americans were known to work in factories or doing unskilled work as a blue collar worker would do, making it ever-present that whites were known to be affiliated with white collar jobs. Even white workers who worked unskilled jobs with these immigrants, such as coal mining, protested that they deserved more money for their work. In the end, stricter immigration laws were passed to prevent the influx of immigrants. We see again this idea of white supremacy through the last quarter of the 19th century.
