Chapter 17

Chapter 17 dealt with industrialization. With industrialization, came wealth, products, and a hierarchy of social classes. Another important aspect of the rise of industrialization was the environment. I think that it is safe to say that our environment is constantly struggling and is under attack due to many of these innovations known as climate change. Even though these inventions and/or innovations and new technology are great for society, I'm wondering if we will eventually kill our planet due to the increases in technological innovations and our obsession of "the next big thing." Social hierarchies also became more prominent during the Industrial Revolution. It is not surprising at all to learn that everyone were not affected the same way from the rise of industrialization. Just like today, some people are very well off while others are not. Even though the top class known as the aristocracy declined due to industrialization, they still had that protection or "cushion" like Strayer described because of their social prestige and wealth whereas the lower classes did not. In the United States, the political problems that occurred during their industrialization still occurs today. The people of the working class did not benefit as much as the elite did from the Industrial Revolution. There is still this tension that exists between conservatives and ones who want change. Today, socialism is still defined as "un-American" and conservatives call it "big government." Republicans or conservatives or the rights define socialism just as that. I feel like that they are reaching, meaning that they are thinking of socialism in the most extreme way and are not thinking of the bigger picture and how it would be practiced and approached. I hope that there can be a middle-ground because I feel that individualism is important, and it should be encouraged for people to make their own money and not live off of the government. However, everyone should have the same equal rights and opportunities to do so, and I think that many people are afraid to have that happen one day.