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1、1997.01Question1-8BoththenumberandthepercentageofpeopleintheUnitedStatesinvolvedinnonagriculturalpursuitsexpandedrapidlyduringthehalfcenturyfollowingtheCivilWar,withsomeofthemostdramaticincreasesoccurringinthedomainsoftransportation,manufacturing,andtradeanddistribution.Thedevelopmento
2、ftherailroadandtelegraphsystemsduringthemiddlethirdofthenineteenthcenturyledtosignificantimprovementsinthespeed,volume,andregularityofshipmentsandcommunications,makingpossibleafundamentaltransformationintheproductionanddistributionofgoods.Inagriculture,thetransformationwasmarkedbytheem
3、ergenceofthegrainelevators,thecottonpresses,thewarehouses,andthecommodityexchangesthatseemedtosomanyofthenation'sfarmersthevisiblesignofavastconspiracyagainstthem.Inmanufacturing,thetransformationwasmarkedbytheemergenceofa"newfactorysystem"inwhichplantsbecamelarger,morecomplex,andmores
4、ystematicallyorganizedandmanaged.Andindistribution,thetransformationwasmarkedbytheemergenceofthejobber,thewholesaler,andthemassretailer.Thesechangesradicallyalteredthenatureofworkduringthehalfcenturybetween1870and1920.Tobesure,therewerestillsmallworkshops,whereskilledcraftspeoplemanufa
5、cturedproductsrangingfromnewspaperstocabinetstoplumbingfixtures.Therewerethesweatshopsincitytenements,wheregroupsofmenandwomeninhouseholdsettingsmanufacturedclothingorcigarsonapieceworkbasis.Andtherewerefactoriesinoccupationssuchasmetalworkwhereindividualcontractorspresidedoverwhatwere
6、essentiallyhandicraftproprietorshipsthatcoexistedwithinasinglebuildings.Butasthenumberofwageearnersinmanufacturingrosefrom2.7millionin1880to4.5millionin1900to8.4millionin1920,thenumberofhugeplantsliketheBaldwinLocomotiveWorksinPhiladelphiaburgeoned,asdidthesizeoftheaverageplant.(TheBal
7、dwinWorkshad600employeesin1855,3,000in1875,and8,000in1900.)By1920,atleastinthenortheasternUnitedStateswheremostofthenation'smanufacturingwageearnerswereconcentrated,three-quartersofthoseworkedinfactorieswithmorethan100employeesand30percentworkedinfactorieswithmorethan1,000employees.1