Final answer:
Industrialization in America led to A. improved living standards by making consumer goods more affordable and improving access to sanitation, but also B. worsened working conditions with long, hazardous work hours for the poor. It did not significantly reduce income inequality, as the benefits were unevenly distributed.
Step-by-step explanation:
Effects of Industrialization on the Poor and Middle Class
Industrialization had a complex impact on the poor and middle class of America. While it brought certain improvements, such as increased availability of consumer goods and some advancements in living standards, it also exacerbated working conditions for the working class.
A. Improved living standards were noted through better access to food, clothing, and sanitary infrastructure. However, the B. worsened working conditions were evident with working class living in often precarious situations, enduring long hours, and facing dangerous work environments.
Income inequality was also a significant aspect of the industrialization era. Although consumer goods became more affordable, the reality for the working class was that the benefits of industrialization were not evenly distributed, ensuring that the reduced income inequality was not a general trend of the time.
Many workers lacked control over their working conditions and substantial benefits from the wealth generated through industrialized capitalism.