Many people view history as a collection of facts or as a collection of stories. The reality, however, is that history is a fluid timeline. Every act of an individual or group has an effect on others. Each moment in history is a constituent element which, good or bad, contributes to the stability of the next one. This is clearly seen in American history, as several developments have occurred since the 1800s that have played a major role in the growth of the nation. The mid-19th century was a time of growth like no other. The term "industrial revolution" refers to the period in which production shifted from homemade products to those produced by machines and factories. As industrial growth expanded and cities expanded, the work done by men and women shifted away from the old agricultural life. People tended to leave their homes to work in the new factories being built. They worked in unsafe conditions, received low wages, and lacked job security (Kellogg). However, it is difficult to argue that the economic development of the United States did not depend greatly on the industrial revolution. The first key player in the American Industrial Revolution was Francis Cabot Lowell. In 1810, in Waltham, Massachusetts, Lowell was responsible for building America's first factory for processing raw cotton into finished fabric. Large factories were built along the river to house the new water-powered electric looms for weaving textiles. Along with the construction of new factories to meet growing consumer demand, the number of immigrants to the United States increased (Kellogg). This new workforce could be employed at even lower wages and benefit from a much lower standard of housing. This in turn increased the profit margin... middle of paper ...... will appear in history texts fifty years from now or how the historian will then evaluate the work of our current and most recent presidents . We know that for those of us living today, the daily actions and decisions of these presidents have a great impact on our lives, on the future of the United States, and on the world. Works Cited Breen, TH, HW Brands et al. . America: past and present. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson, Print. Kellogg, William. American History. 3rd. Hauppauge NY: Barron, 2003. Print. Kennedy, David and Lizabeth Cohen. The American competition. 15th. Boston MA: Wadsworth, 2013. Print. Tay, S. .Washington, George. “Washington's Farewell Address 1796.” Yale Law School Avalon Project, 2008. Web. September 12 2013.