Science and Technology

Throughout the United States, Americans have struggled to make their lives a lot easier with new technology. This came about the Industrialization Era and the Westward Expansion. Both are examples of periods in US History that were supported by science and technology.
The Industrial Era was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, and transport had an effect on the US. Industrialization is the growth of factories and industries. It started with the mechanization of the textile industries, the development of iron-making techniques and the increased use of refined coal. Trade expansion was made by the introduction of canals, improved roads and railways. The introduction of steam power fuelled by coal, wider use of water wheels and powered machinery increases the production capacity.
As the growth of factories increased so did the work force of immigrants contracted. In the factories the workers were paid for work that they produced rather than hours they worked. With the new technology and machines, it increased the amount of work an individual could do. Although the new technology increased efficiency, the work environment was unsafe, unsanitary, and ruled by the clock.
The Westward Expansion was a period of exploration and expansion. After the War of 1812 America turned to exploration and settlement of its territory to the West. Most of the population Immigrating were either exodusters, former plantation owners, or small farm owners who could not afford the North or East, or small farm owners who could not afford the North or East. They also came for greater economic opportunities and for religious freedom such as the Jews and Russians.
The West offered Government Grants, Great Plains, and job opportunities. When they reached the West (Russians, Jews, Chinese, Italian, and Polish) they lived in urban ghettos and worked in factories, sweat shops, coal mines, drilling for oil, railroads, and servant/housework. The increase in immigrants also increased the amounts of ghettos and tenements. The challenges they faced were assimilation, competition, and language. The immigrants had to learn English, face discrimination, and compete with African Americans in mining, dry farming, wind milling, and mechanical reaping.
Science and New Technologies helped better the lives of many Americans in the United States. The Industrialization Era and the Westward Expansion were examples of how technology and science caused positive and negative effects on American life during the 1800s. These periods opened up many doors for Americans in the United States for those who needed a new beginning.