Final answer:
Over the past 200 years, the United States has transitioned from an agrarian society to a highly industrialized nation and finally to an information and service-based economy. This shift has led to significant changes in social institutions, the reduction of manufacturing jobs due to globalization, and a stark increase in income inequality.
Step-by-step explanation:
The economic sectors in the United States have significantly shifted over the past 200 years. Initially, the economy was dominated by the agricultural sector, with most Americans involved in farming. However, by the 1830s, a thriving industrial sector emerged in the Northeast, leading to the Industrial Age, which transitioned the economy from agrarian to industrial. The Industrial Revolution also affected various social institutions, from government involvement in the economy to the education system.
In the late 20th century, a paradigm shift took place as the United States moved into the information age, significantly reducing the number of jobs in the primary and secondary sectors. This period saw a surge in service sector employment, resulting in a postindustrial service economy.
Yet, this growth has been accompanied by increasing income inequality and the erosion of the manufacturing base, with many manufacturing jobs moving overseas to places with lower labor costs. The shift from manufacturing to service-based jobs has created a wide disparity in income levels, with a concentration of wealth among the upper class and a substantial increase in the working poor.