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Throughout the history of our country, advancements, technology, and science has helped shape and improve the quality of life for the people living there. As technology spread things became easier and labor needed was reduced. Technology has helped in many many ways, but there are also some side effects. Cities were greatly affected by the increase of populations. As farming became easier and less labor was needed, people moved into cities in search of work. This made slums and other issues such as poverty, overcrowding, and crime. More inventions, however, were able to help improve quality of life. Steel, skyscrapers, telephones, electricity, and other inventions made life easier and more comfortable. The bessemer process1 is just one of the major inventions that helped cities expand upwards with skyscrapers. Although today steel or electricity may not seem like a huge advancement, we use these things everyday. All these advancements have pushed the country forward. During the time period it had just as many effects as these things have on us today. For example, as public transportation boomed, people were able to move outward in cities reducing the overcrowding. Many scientists helped by discovering advances to help those who were sick, and by helping to keep those who were healthy, healthy. As literacy rates went up, magazines and newspapers became more popular. The printing process was developed that helped make printing more cost efficient and easier. Another invention was photography that could be developed right away2. As photography evolved people were also able to take their own pictures. All of the biggest technological inventions created by man - the airplane, the automobile, the computer - says little about his intelligence, but speaks volumes about his laziness.3 This wise quote shows the one downfall of our inventions and new technology. Technology has made our lives a lot easier, and many people are much lazier today than they were in the past. We can thank our ancestors who invented simple ideas to make our lives get progressively easier. People today may take for granted how different life was back then. I believe that for the most part inventions have really helped America move forward. That phone in your hand all started with the inventions of electricity and the camera in it all started with the portable cameras that George Eastman invented. As cities grew America was able to grow with them. Technology has changed the face of America for good, and the lives of us will never be the same as our ancestors. Everyday the newest inventions that changed industrial America have helped to make our lives the way they are today. Before the Civil war horses pulled street cars in big cities. Later in 1870's and 80's underground moving cables powered streetcar lines. In 1888, in Richmond Virginia the first electricity powered streetcars were used. By the turn of the 20th century most major cities had the electrified street cars also known as trolley cars from outlying districts all the way to the heart of the city. New railroads also led into cities and helped residents commute to work from the suburbs. In a few larger cities street cars were elevated, known as "el trains". New York and more cities built subways, underground transportation. Cities were then able to annex outlying districts.
Bridges helped bring people together. The first steel-cable suspension bridge was the Brooklyn bridge. The need for open spaces in overcrowded cities spurred the emerging of urban planning. Frederick Law Olmsted started the urban landscape movement. He along with Calvert Vaux drew up the plans for Central park. He envisioned the park as a "rustic haven in the middle of the busy city" . He went on to design landscapes for Washington D.C. and St Louis By 1890 the literacy rate in the united states went up to about 90%.
Anesthetic“Gentlemen, this is no humbug.” (Fenster 2001; Wolfe 1993).
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