Changes In The American Family After The Industrial Revolution
Changes In The American Family After The Industrial Revolution
Introduction
Industrial revolution is the period between 1750 and 1850. Changes that happened during this period had an impact on social, cultural and economic conditions in many countries like US. The agricultural, manufacturing, transportation and technology changes had an effect on society, economy and culture. The industrial revolution started in Great Britain and spread to Northern America, Japan and Western Europe and the other parts of the world. The Industrial revolution marked a turning point in history as all aspects of life were influenced. The Industrial revolution had an effect on American family. The Industrial revolution affected various aspects of the American family including roles, values and norms. The values, roles and norms of the American family before and after the industrial revolution differ, and this has caused family problems. The American family encouraged individualism after the revolution as individuals strived to achieve their goals It also led to high divorce rate owing to lack of family time. In addition, it led to changes in family roles as parents did not work with their children in farms and factories. The families depended on men and put pressure on them resulting to family break ups. Thesis: The industrial revolution had a major impact on the American family as it changed roles, norms and values. The revolution promoted various values and behaviors like individualism instead of collectivism. The revolution increased divorce rate and changed family roles.
Discussion
Before the industrial revolution, families operated as economic units that produced services and goods for consumption. During the industrial revolution, family members did not have distinct roles. Parents and children worked in their homes or outside to meet their family needs (Taylor, 2004). The parents and children worked in farms and factories. Men and women worked together in farms as they ploughed and planted crops. During the industrial period, children were forced to work in factories alongside adults. Children did not attend school as there were limited opportunities for education and they were forced to work. The employers paid children less than adults did. Child labor was common during the industrial revolution, but it became common after the population increased and education became common. Children worked in poor conditions and got 10 to 20% less compared to their adult wages. Children started working at a tender age. Employers employed young children aged 4 years. They worked for long and were subjected to harsh punishment (Laslett, 2000). However, the family stopped operating as an economic unit after the industrial revolution. Many laws were developed after the industrial revolution to protect children from child labor and mistreatment. The laws prevented children from working in factories and farms and hence did not help in the economic survival of their families. The children depended on their families to provide for them. Further, the industrial revolution led to the establishment of factories and urbanization. Men and women migrated to towns and worked in the factories. In addition, families moved to urban areas to work in the factories established (Wilson & Gill, 1999).
In addition, industrial revolution led to reduction in family size. American families educed considerably after the industrial revolution. The birth rate reduced, and families became small. This is because of lack of space in towns. The industrial revolution led to overcrowding in cities as families moved to cities to work in factories. This reduced the living space and hence family size. Also, the high cost of living led to reduction in birth rate and family size. The high cost of living made it hard for parents to provide for their families and hence forced them to reduce the family size. Apart from affecting the family size and birth rate, the industrial revolution affect the family as a unit. Before the industrial revolution, American families lived as a unit (Kirby, 2000). American families valued family ties and family members lived together. The extended family was vital during this period and members lived near their extended kins. However, this changed after the industrial revolution. Transport systems in various countries including the United States developed during the industrial revolution. The development of the transport systems enabled people to move from one place to another. People migrated to towns from rural areas. Also, family members travelled to work far from their homes and moved away from their extended families. With the increase in mobility, the extended families became divided into smaller units. The extended family was divided into nuclear family which consisted of parents, and children. The parents raised the children without the support of the extended family. Children did not have adequate supervision from adults and moral guidance as parents left their homes to work and did not get support from extended family members when raising children. Lack of adult supervision and guidance resulted to increase in crime rates as children engaged in criminal activities. The extended family is still divided today as parents and children live separate from their extended family (Mancall & Goloboy, 2008).
The industrial revolution affected father’s role in the family. Before, the industrial revolution, fathers performed domestic activities including childcare. However, the role changed after the industrial revolution. The creation of factories and employment outside the home affected the roles as fathers had to work outside home. The role of the fathers became mainly economic (Knox, Schact & Knox, 2010). The family started depending on men to provide for them. Moreover, the industrial revolution replaced familism with individualism. American families encouraged collectivism before the industrial revolution. Family members worked towards a common goal instead of pursuing their own goals. The family members depended on each other for survival and were concerned with what was best for the family. Individualism became common after the industrial revolution as family members started to pursue their individual goals. The members stopped pursuing goals that benefited the extended family and instead concentrated on the nuclear family. The concentration of the needs of the family has changed to self fulfillment. People migrating from collectivistic cultures to United States abandon their culture. They notice that their norms, duties and values are not in accordance with the US culture. Hence, the norms, values and roles change in reference to individualistic thinking and culture. Individualism has affected the American family greatly as it has increased the divorce rates. It has also led to parents spending less time with children and absent fathers (Tischler, 2010).
The industrial revolution led to increase in the divorce rates in United States. The divorce rate in US increased greatly after the industrial revolution according to Elaine. The lifestyle changes that happened after the industrial revolution put huge pressure on men to provide for the family. This resulted to break up of families. Elaine used cases from New Jersey and California to show the high rate of divorce in US after the industrial revolution. Divorce records from the class independent family revealed the relationship between financial conflicts and material circumstance that affected families. The labor demand, lack of time and poor communication made women uncomfortable as the men worked far from home. This led to separation and impacted families. Therefore, the development of industries resulted to communication and relationship problems though it created employment opportunities (May, 1978). The divorce rate during the industrial period was not high as families worked as a unit. Collaboration was important during that time as family members needed to produce a lot of goods and services. Factories created family time and strengthened family ties as the family members had to work together. The family members influenced each other and developed a sense of identity. The divorce rate in US is still high as men and women do not have family time and experience communication and relationship issues (Hall, Korstad & Leloudis, 1986).
Conclusion
In conclusion, the industrial revolution had a profound impact on the American families. It changed values, roles and norms in the society and affected the families. It resulted to individualism instead of familism as individuals focused on attaining personal goals. The extended families split into various nuclear family units, and family ties were broken. Also, the roles of family members changed as parents and children stopped working together to meet family needs. The American families depend on fathers as they provide for the family. Labor laws prevented children from working and instead get education. This has increased their dependence on parents. The industrial revolution led to increase in divorce rate due to lack of family time. Men and women spend time working, and this has affected family time and relations. Thus, one should understand how the industrial revolution has affected the American families in order to address problems common in families. Understanding families will help prevent divorce, crime and improve communication.
Reference
Hall, D. J. Korstad, R., & Leloudis, J. (1986). Cotton Mill People: Work, Community, and Protest in the Textile South, 1880-1940. The American Historical Review, Vol 91, issue no2
Kirby, M. (2000). Sociology in perspective. Heinemann
Knox, D., Schact, C., & Knox, D. (2010). Choices in relationships. Cengage Learning
May, T. E. (1978). The Pressure to Provide: Class, Consumerism, and Divorce in Urban America, 1880-1920. Journal of Social History, vol12, issue no 2
Laslett, P. (2000). The World we have lost. Routledge
Mancall, P.C., & Goloboy, J.L. (2008). Industrial revolution. ABC-CLIO
Taylor, M.L. (2004). Remembering Esperanza. Fortress Press
Tischler, H.L. (2010). Introduction to sociology. Cengage Learning
Wilson, J.Q., & Gill, R.T. (1999). Posterity Lost. Rowman & Littlefield
Is this your assignment or some part of it?
We can do it for you! Click to Order!
