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During the late nineteenth century, America was industrialized in a fashion never before seen. Its industrial power exceeded that of Great Britain, France, and Germany¡¯s. Due to its abundant natural resources, America had more than enough raw materials needed for industrialization. The large number of immigrants combined with the original population, provided a strong foundation for America¡¯s labor force. By the 1900s, half of the United States¡¯ labor force worked in factories in comparison with the one-fourth in 1860. As a result of such rapid industrialization, a sudden break in technology, followed by significant impacts on politics, economic interests, and the society, occurred in the late nineteenth century. Since the early 1870s, railroad construction in the United States has increased dramatically. From 35,000 miles in 1865, it grew five times to an astonishing 193,000 in 1900. Much of this growth was contributed by the building of the transcontinental railroads. Most of the railroad building acquired assistance from the federal government, but some of the smaller ones often caused dispute with the private landowners who refused to give up their land. By 1900, much of the nation's railroad system was in place. Th