Answer to Question #175402 in History for Jane SMith

Question

How did industrialization and economic growth affect the social and the natural environments of the Western Hemisphere countries?

Answer 1

Industrialization is the process by which an economy is transformed from a primarily agricultural one to one based on the manufacturing of goods. Industrialization leads to Economic growth which is the process by which a nation's wealth increases over time. Industrialization increased the material wealth of the Western world. It also ended the dominance of agriculture and initiated significant social change. The everyday work environment also changed drastically, and the West became an urban civilization. Radical new schools of economic and philosophical thought began to replace the traditional ideas of Western civilization. The environmental impact of economic growth includes the increased consumption of non-renewable resources, higher levels of pollution, global warming, and the potential loss of Western hemispheres' environmental habitats. Further, Western Hemisphere countries saw a significant increase in population, which, along with an increase in living standards, led to the depletion of natural resources. The use of chemicals and fuel in factories resulted in increased air and water pollution and increased use of fossil fuels.