On the economy of the American South after the Second Industrial Revolution

The reasons for the rapid development of the American economy during the second industrial revolution

In the late 1870s, the United States completed the Industrial Revolution and became an industrial power second only to the United Kingdom. During the second industrial revolution, the speed of economic development in the United States accelerated significantly. The main reasons are:

1. Geographic factors

1. Strategic geographical location

The United States faces the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. It is far away from the Old Continent, allowing it to avoid the interference of wars in the Old Continent. It is adjacent to weak countries on both its north and south sides, which provides it with a peaceful environment conducive to the development of capitalist economy.

2. Rich in Resources

The United States has a vast territory, fertile land and rich mineral resources. Coal mines are widely distributed, and Appalachian coal reserves are large and of good quality. Large amounts of iron ore are concentrated on the west shore of Lake Superior and in places such as Birmingham in the southern Appalachians. The United States is not only rich in coal and iron resources, but can also be combined with cheap water transportation on the Great Lakes. In addition, there are also abundant reserves of oil, natural gas, copper, lead, zinc, molybdenum, vanadium, uranium, sulfur and phosphate, as well as forest resources and hydropower resources, which provide unique material conditions for the rapid development of the US economy.

3． Suitable climate

The geographical location of the United States is mostly temperate and subtropical, with diverse climate types. The eastern part has a temperate continental climate; the southern Gulf Coast has entered the subtropical zone; the western plateau and mountainous climate has a dry climate; the northern part of the Pacific Coast has a temperate maritime climate, and the southern part has a Mediterranean climate. Rainfall is abundant in most areas. In terms of geothermal conditions, most areas of the United States are suitable for farming and are conducive to the cultivation of a variety of crops. There are good prerequisites for the rapid development of American agriculture.

4． Eurasian immigrants provided labor for the economic development of the United States

After the Great Discovery, Europe began to immigrate to the Americas. In the last 50 years of the 18th century, approximately 1 million people immigrated to the Americas from Europe. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, with the rapid development of the world economy and the modernization of land and sea transportation, there was a climax of population migration in the world. The main direction of European immigrants is the United States, and Asian immigrants are also entering the United States continuously. Immigrants spend their pre-adult consumption period in their home country, which can save the United States a lot of training and education costs. Eurasian immigrants provided a large number of labor forces for the development of the U.S. economy, especially European immigrants, who provided a large number of skilled workers for the United States (accounting for more than half of the total number of U.S. workers, with a larger proportion in the steel, coal mining, and textile sectors).

2. Good political environment

1. Expansion of state functions

In the late 19th century, the state functions of capitalist countries were not limited to the suppression of working people, but expanded to intervene in all areas of social life, adjust social relations through social legislation, and intervene Economic life, establishing education, protecting natural resources, etc. Sometimes the government also appears to mediate labor relations. In May 1902, a general strike by anthracite coal miners broke out in the United States. President Theodore Roosevelt intervened and prompted coal mine owners to increase workers' wages by 10% and reduce working hours to 9 hours. The expansion of state functions provides a relatively stable and harmonious social environment for economic development.

2. Reform of the Civil Service System

In order to rectify corrupt officials and improve the efficiency of administrative management, the United States promulgated the Civil Service Regulations in 1883 and reformed the civil service system. Its main contents are: first, to implement an open competitive examination method for the recruitment of civil servants, and to select the best; second, to carry out regular assessments, and to reward and punish officials according to their abilities and achievements; third, to ensure that civil servants are permanent and do not advance or retreat with the ruling party. . These reforms have introduced a competition mechanism into the civil service system, reduced corruption in the government to a certain extent, improved the quality of civil servants, stimulated the enthusiasm of public officials, and improved the efficiency of government work.

3． Scientific management by experts

Beginning in the 1870s and 1980s, the United States launched an urban management reform movement. After long-term exploration, a committee-manager municipal management system was implemented. First, citizens elect a non-partisan committee (5, 7 or 9 members) based on the principle of universal suffrage, which is fully responsible for formulating policies and laws, and approving the annual budget. The committee will then hire an expert with specialized training and rich management experience and talents to serve as the city manager, who will be fully responsible for city administrative affairs. This system not only takes into account the interests of various groups of citizens, but also exerts work efficiency. At the same time, it combines democratic management with expert governance, putting municipal management on the track of expert scientific management.

The expansion of government functions, the reform of the civil service system and the scientific management of experts have all adapted to the requirements of the era of socialized mass production and the era of industrialization, creating a good political environment for the development of the United States' social economy. This good political environment attracted a large amount of European capital to the United States, preparing a large amount of funds for the rapid development of the American economy.

3. The development of education has provided strong intellectual support for the rapid development of the American economy.

Since the 1850s, the United States has embarked on the road of implementing compulsory education. After the civil war, compulsory education developed particularly rapidly. By the early 20th century, every state had enacted compulsory education laws.

In order to cultivate high-level scientific and technological talents, the Lincoln government enacted the "Morrill Land Act" in 1862, which stipulated that the federal government would grant a large amount of state-owned land to each state so that the income from selling the land could be used to develop agricultural colleges and industrial colleges. By the end of the 19th century, the federal government had accumulated 150 million acres of land used for educational development. Before the promulgation of the Morrill Land Act, there were very few state universities. After the promulgation of the law, the number of state universities increased rapidly, and they played a huge role in promoting the development of industry and agriculture in the United States.

The educational reform in the United States has achieved remarkable results. By 1900, the United States had an average of 31.4 college students per 10,000 people, far exceeding that of major European countries. Education in the United States not only prepares workers with cultural knowledge for economic construction in a timely manner, but also provides a large number of scientific and technological talents in a timely manner, promoting rapid economic development.

4. Historical Factors

There is no deep-rooted feudal system in the history of the United States. Some feudal relationships in agriculture have been completely abolished. Especially after the Civil War, the black slave system in the South was Cleansing; the industry is not bound by old frameworks such as guild traditions and conservative production methods like those in European countries. The development of American capitalism has faced relatively little traditional resistance.

The development of the western territories of the United States expanded the various basic resources required for industrial development and broadened the domestic market. In addition, the United States industrialized late and could make full use of the modern technological achievements of European countries and accelerate the development of the United States. economic development.