In the reading in Major Problems in American History, titled "Radical Possibilities of the American Revolution" there was a paragraph about the switch from hard labor as being an act of the poor, to hard labor being a way to gain success. As I read this I found this to be true in America, however, I was curious as to how this switch was brought about. In my opinion, I think the switch was brought about because there was no established social system in new America as there was in Europe. Since there were no real social classes, no one could be born into success, like in Europe, and thus had to work for it. This strong will to gain success carried through from the late 1760s to today. One of the greatest liberties of America is that one can truly make their own destiny, without being oppressed by any form of social system or requirement. How do you think this change came about?
Since the social classes of people could be changed, people worked harder, and competed against each other to make it to the top. I believe that this reason alone is one of the more significant causes of the Industrial Revolution, which occurred from the late 1700s to the early 1900s. Even after the Industrial Revolution, new innovations continue to be created; the list is endless, the computer, the telephone and the television.
Image of a factory during the Industrial Revolution:
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