Final answer:
The pronounced growth in factories during the 1800s in North America is known as the Industrial Revolution, a period that saw the transformation from agrarian society to an industrial economy, driven by technologies such as the steam engine and innovations in manufacturing, and marked by significant urbanization.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the 1800s, North America went through a period where there was pronounced growth in factories known as the Industrial Revolution. This industrialization marked a significant transition from agrarian farm production to mechanized manufacturing production. The process began in Great Britain and spread to the United States in the 19th century, rapidly expanding particularly after the War of 1812. It started with the textile industry in New England, powered by water and later by steam, and paved the way for the rise of the Manufacturing Belt around the Great Lakes. Industrial development fueled urbanization, transforming the United States from a primarily rural society to one increasingly centered around urban factories and cities.
The Industrial Age in America saw countless advances in technology that redefined the nature of work and led to the creation of massive urban centers such as Philadelphia, Boston, and New York. Factors including the development of the steam engine allowed for factories to be located in urban areas irrespective of water sources, thus changing the social and economic landscape significantly. Immigration played a role too, as a labor shortage in the US led to an influx of immigrant workers who took up jobs in these new urban factories.
By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, industrial technology had gradually increased the standard of living for many Americans and Europeans. The emergence of corporations like Standard Oil and Carnegie Steel, alongside the expansion of the railroad and the development of commercial electricity, further propelled industrial growth, allowing America to transition to a strong industrial economy.