New Inventions: The Golden Age

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Debbie Pan Mr. Lawson U.S. History 06 November 9, 2008 The Golden Age As the streetlights come to a dull, warm glow, the city yawns sleepily as it prepares for a brand-new day. The once empty streets were quickly filled with the pitter-patter of feet as workers hurry along to their individual jobs. Machines hummed with power and store lights gradually flickered on one by one. As the new era dawned, inventions were created, society progressed, and new doorways were opened, paving the way for the “American Dream.” In the late 1800s and early 1900s, railroads were built, factories were opened, and the light bulb was invented. What had once been a raggedy, unpromising America was replaced by bustling cities and fresh crowds of…show more content…
New inventions changed the very way people resided. One of the most important inventions of all time was the light bulb, founded by Thomas Alva Edison. Edison developed and distributed a system for electricity, eliminating further need of fire-hazardous oil lamps. Electricity was used to improve transportation, increase production and revolutionize business (Danzer 248). Faster production also contributed greatly to the progressions made by the industrial era. Frederick Winslow Taylor studied scientific management, or using scientific methods to increase worker output and cut costs. He measured each worker’s maximum output; then decreased the amount of movements needed, ultimately increasing productivity. Each worker was assigned a specialized task to repeatedly complete. Henry Ford put Winslow’s ideas to good use, creating the assembly line to mass produce his Model T car. Since production costs decreased, Ford was able to pay his workers enough so that they could afford their own Model T. Ford’s workers were the first to be paid a sufficient amount (Danzer 333). America, the land of opportunities, quickly became a melting pot of cultures due to its many prospects. People from all countries “melted” together in one big community. Immigrants, especially Jews, gathered in the United…show more content…
Industrialization also introduced negative effects like harsh working conditions, unsanitary food, and business monopolies, yet was able to fill in the flaws through new inventions, assembly lines, diverse populations along with reforms and eventually impacting society in a positive way. Even though there were flaws, the “American Dream” still prevailed. Obstacles in the path paved the way for the golden future. Tomorrow rests on the stumbles, the mistakes made. The imperfections in the industrial era only served to magnify the beauty of the positives; success could and was achieved. The shining rays of success, the reforms, etc., can still be found in the darkness of the failures, the callous conditions present. As the sun sets, the lights in the houses glimmer, then all is dark. The city settles into a deep slumber - until the dawn visits
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