Final answer:
The end of the 19th and early 20th centuries in the U.S. saw advances like increased mobility and political enfranchisement, alongside drawbacks like labor exploitation and displacement of Native Americans. Urbanization and industrialization created wealth and new social classes but also led to significant class and labor strife.
Step-by-step explanation:
At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, the United States experienced significant social, political, economic, and cultural shifts. These changes were largely influenced by industrialization, urbanization, and westward expansion.
On the positive side, these shifts encouraged greater mobility and opportunities for many Americans. Settlers moved beyond the Appalachian Mountains to the Old Northwest and Old Southwest, staking claims to land for production and providing raw materials for factories. Political changes led to universal white male suffrage, reflecting increased democratic tendencies in governance. Economically, the rise in the number of factories and business opportunities increased the prosperity of many individuals and the nation.
However, on the negative side, there were also significant drawbacks. The requirement for more cash crops led to increased workload on both settlers and slaves, with the latter facing harsher conditions when slaveholders moved west. Industrial workers, including women and young men, often found themselves in long-term wage labor in tough factory conditions. Additionally, the settlement in the west caused conflicts with Native American tribes, whose land rights were frequently disregarded amid the expansion.
The formation of distinct social classes and the unequal distribution of wealth created class divisions and labor struggles, with industrialists and workers often at odds. The rise of big business also contributed to increased federal centralization and the growth of government and business ties. Authors and thinkers of the time used literature to explore and critique these sweeping changes, often using realism or social criticism to convey the experiences of people during this transformative era.