HICHAM ZAIDI History 202
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Essay I

The late nineteenth century was the transition phase of the history of the US. Everything started with second industrial revolution (1850’s). It led to major developments like easier communication and transportation, and vast technological and scientific advancements. Big industries and factories arose, altering life styles… America became the attractive spot for all immigrants for its seeming endless new opportunities. People from all over the world, from all the different cultures came to the US to form what we called the “Salad Bowl”. Often these cultures were antagonistic to one another. Communities were formed and each one strictly reserved on itself to conserve itself, but they were to face new social “phenomena” that contradicted their beliefs and customs. Those new social trends were born from industrialisation, being a necessity to its functioning, but disoriented people from their traditional vision, of life in general. They, thus, sought justification to their altered social behaviours due to new living conditions. The post-industrial period, was as a historian calls it: the era representing a “SEARCH FOR ORDER”. It was distinctively manifested professionally and intellectually.

The contributions brought, by industrialisation, to the transportation and communication patterns were such that need to be stressed for a better understanding. The railroad system facilitated lots of things in every field, socially and economically. The construction of transcontinental railways were, in itself, the first big business to be undertaken; it employed the unemployed. Also industries made profits cutting some costs: raw materials were directly routed to the factories. Socially, it