Future of Modernizations

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Future of Modernization The United States one hundred years ago was a far different place than the U.S. we inhabit today. Two distinct social movements took place, the Industrial Revolution and the Information Revolution that resulted in the modernization of America. The cause of modernization is attributed to three factors, which are invention, discovery and diffusion (Macionis, 2006). The future of modernization will be a combination of positive and negative changes in the American society. One hundred years ago, the majority of the citizens of the United States lived in small towns and villages, had large families, relied on animals for transportation and heavy labor and had slow or nonexistent communication with other towns. Urban dwellers made up only 40 % of the American population (Macionis, 2006). These rural villages revolved around family and community and life was steep in tradition (Macionis, 2006). Government and formal organization did not have any effect on individual lives. Social changes evolved slowly in rural America because of the relative isolation of each community from outside influences and the lack of diversity of the inhabitants (Macionis, 2006). The Industrial Revolution that took place in the United States in the early 1900’s saw modern inventions, such as indoor plumbing, electricity, clocks, the telephone, trains, the automobile, farm machinery, jet engines and television, become more accessible to the average citizen. These inventions began to change the face of American society. Communities were able to communicate with people outside of their own towns. They were also able to travel to other towns that were previously too far to travel by horseback. Motorized engines made farming more industrialized and took fewer workers. Automatic washing machines, refrigerators and vacuum cleaners allowed women to run their households in
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