U.S. History Ordeal by Fire Term Paper

Total Length: 653 words ( 2 double-spaced pages)

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The government also became a large consumer of manufactured goods, which added even more profits to industries' coffers.

There were some problems during this time of growth and development, however. The powerful railroads often wielded their power indiscriminately, and many Americans can to criticize the power and exploitation of the railroads and their wealthy owners. Owners often created schemes to make money both from railroads and their construction, which led to "conflict of interest" scandals that had not been known before. The public came to distrust the railroads, and workers began to protest their low wages, dangerous jobs, and long hours. Industrialization also created less of a need for many craftsmen and tradesmen, and remaining jobs were often menial for low pay and long hours of work. This helped create labor unrest and discontent in many people, and combined with railroad problems, led to unemployment and an eventual slowing down of the economy. Due to greed and overbuilding, many railroads ended up bankrupt, and that threw the country into a depression full of unemployment and inflation.
Thus, the outlook was not all rosy after the Civil War, but industrialization did increase, innovation would continue to help the economy and industries, and the country would eventually climb out of the depression again.

Ultimately, the Civil War helped hasten the growth of industrialization in the United States. After the war, transportation, factories, merchandizing, and innovation all grew, and continued growing for at least two decades or more. The economy of the U.S. was strong and growing, and it seemed nothing could stop it. Of course, inflation and labor woes did eventually turn on the economy, but after the Civil War, industrialization was the order of the day in the United States.

Reference

McPhearson, J.M. (2001). Ordeal by fire: The Civil War and reconstruction. New York: McGraw Hill......

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"U S History Ordeal By Fire" (2006, November 02) Retrieved July 7, 2025, from
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"U S History Ordeal By Fire", 02 November 2006, Accessed.7 July. 2025,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/us-history-ordeal-fire-42076