Abstract
Industrialization sparked a series of social changes as people poured into the cities. The new capitalist elite flaunted its wealth and political might, and class divisions increased. ‘1866–1900: Industrialization and its consequences’ examines the profound effects of the industrial revolution in America and the consequences for society. These decades saw a rise in racism. Some commentators viewed America's laissez-faire capitalist system as the path to progress, others felt uneasy. Industrialization had an impact on American life at all levels. In just fifty years, America changed from an agarian society to an urban-industrial one with a strong agricultural hinterland. As industrialization proceeded, Americans began to look towards reassessing America's global role.
