Free Advent Of Industrial Age In America Essay Example

In the transition period from agricultural to industrial economy in the United States, it took over hundred years for it to be achieved. The period saw it that the number of manufacturing industries in United States increased and this led to urbanization. The shift from using hand made products to machine made products led to increase in supply and demand and goods thus improving the standards of living to a much higher level during the industrialization period (Foner, 2005). This meant that even the organizational structure in businesses was to change. In a scale of 1- 6, in deciding whether the enervate of government was important in fair distribution of wealth, I chose 6 which strongly agrees that this was important in order to bring order and fairness in businesses.
The industrial revolution has led to the growth of America and elevation of its status at the level it is at the moment. During the early years of industrialization the government believed in what were known as the laissez- faire economics (Foner, 2005). The principle had it that for economic growth the government was not supposed to interfere with the economic market. The economic market was supposed to run freely to ensure that there was healthy competition among manufactures. This meant that the plight of the poor was not considered and manufacturer’s interests were what were promoted. The principle tried to incorporate nature’s principle of survival for the fittest into the business world promising that it would turn out to be healthy but that did not happen. This led to hardworking citizens who were working in the manufacturing factories and paid with minimal wages to suffer since they were considered not of much importance in the economy. Their work was not considered to be of progress to the nation whereas they were the pillars of the economy.
One of the reasons why government involvement in industrial revolution was important was to regulate the monopolies and ensure that the business field was fair for other new players to chip in and provide goods at fair prices. The government was supposed to regulate monopolized industries which were a threat to small and emerging businesses as they squeezed them out of business as soon as they had started. This proved that the abstinence of government from interfering with the markets did not create free markets as it was intended but rather monopolized it (Foner, 2005). This would ensure that the prices set by monopolies were regulated to be affordable by all. This is because monopolies set their prices high without taking into consideration of the poor among the society who were in need of the goods.
Government’s involvement in industrialization was important because legislations such as the Sherman Act were passed. The Act outlawed all trusts and contracts entered into that did not promote free trade. This act made it possible for a level playing field for all players in the industry to conduct their businesses. The act was meant at nullifying trusts entered into by big businesses which made it hard for other new stakeholders in the industry to venture or conduct their businesses smoothly. The industries also did not provide healthy and safe working environment for their workers thus it was necessary for measures to improve on them to be made. This was to be done by promoting and safeguarding workers rights which were being violated. The involvement of the government in safeguarding their right would be important in ensuring a that needed legislation and its implementation of necessary laws was in pace.
In conclusion, we can see why government involvement in the American industrial age was very important. The principle of Laissez- faire which was promoted by philosophers in the age of enlightenment turned out that it promoted negative economic practices of which it was not what it was intended to. The regulation of markets and legislation of labor laws were important to ensure that there was a level playing field and that no one was exploited by industrialization. On a scale of 6 I strongly agree that it was important for the involvement of the government in the industrialization period.

Works Cited

Foner, Eric. Give me liberty!: an American history. New York: WW Norton, 2005.