Political systems were changing from their traditional methods …show more content…
Often times this involved implementing the Western views of democracy into their societies. Imperialism was rampant during these times and brought negative effects to the areas that were touched. While the proponents of imperialism advocate that the new colonial rule brings “technology, institutions, and values,” the opponents express the extreme poverty it perpetuates (Duiker 67). When the imperial powers would create their spheres of influence it was done based upon the benefits that it brought to them and not the country being colonized, creating tensions and instability between those involved. “In imperial Russia, internal tensions became too much for the traditional landholding elites to handle, leading to significant political and social unrest in the first decade of the twentieth century” (Duiker 67). “One of the new political ideas was liberalism” which promoted freedom and equality to individuals (Duiker 9). Liberalism (individuals' freedoms and rights) along with capitalism (market economy controlled by supply and demand) were most successful in Western Europe and the United States than in Eastern Europe areas. This was the profitable combination in order to have a competitive advantage against foreign …show more content…
A main cause of the increasing changes and issues were due to urbanization. Cities began to urbanize and large amounts of people poured in from the rural areas, leaving the agricultural lifestyle and entering into the industrial sector. “Rapid population growth led to overcrowding in the burgeoning cities and increasing public health problems” (Duiker 6). Housing began to be an issue which often led to cheap and easy dwellings being thrown up and the quality was lacking. In America, “the total population had grown from 5 to 30 million people, larger than Great Britain itself” (Duiker 3). Immigration was prevalent with people from the developing countries moving to the growing and developed countries to provide for their families while gaining knowledge and experience to share with others, including their homeland. However, due to the rapid growth and the income inequality between landowners or factory owners in the private sectors and the peasants and lower-class workers, working conditions throughout the cities were often abusive, filthy, and unhealthy. Child labor became prevalent during the Revolution with the economical demands. “Children as young as six years of age began to work before dawn” (Duiker