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U.S. Society Shifts from Agrarian to Urban

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U.S. Society Shifts From Agrarian to Urban
Throughout history the American society has continued to change. The biggest transformation occurred when the American society shifted from an Agrarian culture to an urban culture. This shift affected society greatly. The time during the Civil War brought on a rise of western farmers. As time advanced to post Civil War, the American People had grown accustomed to a set of traditional values. Religion became a central factor in the lives of families. Traditionalism also gave individuals in families defined roles where men worked and women took care of the children and estate. This type of Victorian society was a period in America when there were strict rules for public behavior and a strong work ethic. By the late half of the 19th century, a modern industrial economy started to emerge through the rise of big business. The railroad industry became the first big business by stimulating the national economy. It helped pave the way for other big industries like steel, coal, and oil to arise as well. This growth of industry made the U.S. a desirable place for immigrants, however it also created a class of workers dependent on wage labor. The conditions in factories were often unsafe and workers had to work long hours for low wages. In retaliation, workers banded together to form labor unions such as the American Federation of Labor to get better working conditions. As America anticipated entering WWI, the state of the economy rose with the increased production of war materials. As men left for war, women moved into the work force to fill their positions. This was a major leap from the old traditional values of society. This newfound independence gave force behind women’s suffrage under the leadership of leaders such as Alice Paul. Through persistent women movements and U.S. increased involvement in the war, a patriotic fever spearheaded the ratification of the 18th and 19th Amendments. However, as post WWI came around the American economy fell dramatically due to factories putting a halt to production. After WWI, Americans had to adjust to changed society. As new ideas of how things should work socially, politically, and economically were taking shape, older, more traditional ideas were struggling to maintain their foothold on the American people. The idea of modernism began to pick up due to new inventions such as the automobile that affected the ways Americans could now travel. Conflicts arose between modern and traditional ideas, as well the tension between the two opposing sides of the issue. Despite the traditionalist efforts to maintain their values in a newly renovated society after WWI the shift from an agrarian society to a modern society had already taken place.
The 1920’s were a time of great change and reflected how modernism had affected society in the United States. Better known as the Jazz Age, the twenties were a time of music, art, and personal expression. Women wore shorter skirts, smoked in public, and became seemingly more independent. Events such as the Harlem Renaissance gave African Americans a voice in the new fast paced society. However the fast paced lavish lifestyle eventually caught up with Americans after abusive credit spending. The economy hit rock bottom in 1929 and the U.S. entered into the great depression. The great depression caused Americans to face many hardships. The leadership of President Hoover proved to be unsuccessful and Americans wanted a change. This demand in society resulted into the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Under his policy titled New Deal he established his Alphabet Agencies that allowed labor and business to work together again. This opening of new jobs resulted into the great migration and a flood of African Americans into the North. As the U.S. entered WWII people returned to work and the economy rose once again. After WWII the government made sure that the economy would not falter like it had done after WWI. The GI Bill was established to give war veterans the opportunity to go to college, build homes, or invest into business. The era became know as the baby boom when society shifted back towards family values and an uprising of suburban areas. The invention of the television also helped change the culture of American by providing Americans the ability to watch debates and civil rights activities for the first time and letting them form their own opinions on issues. The shift from and Agrarian society to an urban society was a gradual and progressive change. Although it took some time, the affects it had on the American society where huge and impacted the values, culture, transportation, and leisure time of Americans.

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