The rise of industrialization brought many significant changes to the American economy and society from 1865-1900. Some of these changes included urbanization, the rise of big businesses, and the rise of laissez faire capitalism. Industrialization had both a positive and negative effect on the U.S. economy and society. It allowed the United States to surpass many of its leading competitors including Germany and Great Britain but it also led to sharper economic and class divisions among the rich, middle class, and the poor.

Immigrants came to the United States during the industrial era for the main purposes of finding jobs. This led to a shift from rural areas to the urbanization of cities. Slums were also built as housing for immigrant...