--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Although per capita income doubled during…" description: "\"“Although per capita income doubled during the half-century, not all sectors of society shared equally in this abundance. While both rich and poor enjo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6c/james-m-mcpherson-46986_division-of-labor_although-per-capita-income-doubled-durin_37845.jpg" --- # Although per capita income doubled during the… ![“Although per capita income doubled during the half-century, not all sectors of society shared equally in this abundance. While both rich and poor enjoyed rising incomes, their inequality of wealth widened significantly. As the population began to move from farm to city, farmers increasingly…” quote by James M. McPherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6c/james-m-mcpherson-46986_division-of-labor_although-per-capita-income-doubled-durin_37845.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6c/james-m-mcpherson-46986_division-of-labor_although-per-capita-income-doubled-durin_37845.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6c/james-m-mcpherson-46986_division-of-labor_although-per-capita-income-doubled-durin_37845.jpg) > ““Although per capita income doubled during the half-century, not all sectors of society shared equally in this abundance. While both rich and poor enjoyed rising incomes, their inequality of wealth widened significantly. As the population began to move from farm to city, farmers increasingly specialized in the production of crops for the market rather than for home consumption. The manufacture of cloth, clothing, leather goods, tools, and other products shifted from home to shop and from shop to factory. In the process many women experienced a change in roles from producers to consumers with a consequent transition in status. Some craftsmen suffered debasement of their skills as the division of labor and power-driven machinery eroded the traditional handicraft methods of production and transformed them from self-employed artisans to wage laborers. The resulting potential for class conflict threatened the social fabric of this brave new republic.”” [James M. McPherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-mcpherson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Industrialization raised overall wealth but deepened economic disparity, reshaping labor, gender roles, and social stability. **In simple terms:** Economic growth vs. inequality Key Takeaway Growth can widen gaps Themes industrialization urbanization gender roles class conflict economic inequality Mood reflective critical analytical Type historical observation sociopolitical commentary When to use this quote - rural to urban migration - women entering wage work - artisan displacement - policy debates on wealth distribution Key Concepts division of labor wage labor market agriculture technological change Practical Applications - historical analysis of economic development - guiding equitable labor reforms Questions to Reflect On - How does rising productivity affect social cohesion? - What policies can mitigate widening wealth gaps? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Division of labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/division-of-labor/) [Rich and poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich-and-poor/) ## Related quotes > [It's important to realize that innovation and growth in itself are not sufficient to moderate inequality of wealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-piketty/it-s-important-to-realize-that-innovation-and-growth-in-itself-are/) [Thomas Piketty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-piketty/) > [The growing inequality of wealth and income distribution is both a moral and economic problem. If the wealthy are unwilling to pay more taxes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-bartlett/the-growing-inequality-of-wealth-and-income-distribution-is-both-a/) [Bruce Bartlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-bartlett/) > [For most of our nation's history, whatever the inequality in wealth between the richest and poorest citizens, we maintained a cultural equality known nowhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-murray/for-most-of-our-nation-s-history-whatever-the-inequality-in-wealth/) [Charles Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-murray/) > ['Munmun' happened because the human world's dizzying inequality - of wealth and of power - had begun to send me over the edge, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-andrews/munmun-happened-because-the-human-world-s-dizzying-inequality-of/) [Jesse Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-andrews/) > [When you think of policies that are going to address inequality of wealth, you have to be very thoughtful about what economists call "incidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/when-you-think-of-policies-that-are-going-to-address-inequality-of/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [“These people look upon inequality as upon an evil. They do not assert that a definite degree of inequality which can be exactly determined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/these-people-look-upon-inequality-as-upon-an-evil-they-do-not-assert/) [Ludwig Von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Inequality of wealth and incomes is an essential feature of the market economy. It is the implement that makes the consumers supreme in giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/inequality-of-wealth-and-incomes-is-an-essential-feature-of-the/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [“Wealth acquired by creating value for society is not equivalent to wealth that comes from economic rents. For example, a very important factor in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-tirole/wealth-acquired-by-creating-value-for-society-is-not-equivalent-to/) [Jean Tirole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-tirole/) > [The United States in many ways resembles a Third World country - far more elevated, but it has many of those structural characteristics: the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-united-states-in-many-ways-resembles-a-third-world-country-far/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [While capitalist countries have more inequality - they also have more wealth overall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-bongino/while-capitalist-countries-have-more-inequality-they-also-have-more/) [Dan Bongino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-bongino/) > [People do not cooperate under the division of labor because they love or should love one another. They cooperate because this best serves their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/people-do-not-cooperate-under-the-division-of-labor-because-they-love/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [“Digital technology did not really lend itself to a simple division of labor between creative (generating the ideas) and production (executing the ideas). In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-farmer/digital-technology-did-not-really-lend-itself-to-a-simple-division-of/) [Michael Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-farmer/) > [Cities are, first of all, seats of the highest economic division of labor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-simmel/cities-are-first-of-all-seats-of-the-highest-economic-division-of/) [Georg Simmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-simmel/) > [“structure of the social division of labor. Many firms and industries must make fundamental changes to long-held business models in order to adapt. Further,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-von-hippel/structure-of-the-social-division-of-labor-many-firms-and-industries/) [Eric von Hippel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-von-hippel/) > [Every step by which an individual substitutes concerted action for isolated action results in an immediate and recognizable improvement in his conditions. The advantages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/every-step-by-which-an-individual-substitutes-concerted-action-for/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) ## More by James M. McPherson > [“The truth is, when bullets are whacking against tree-trunks and solid shot are cracking skulls like egg-shells, the consuming passion in the breast of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-mcpherson/the-truth-is-when-bullets-are-whacking-against-tree-trunks-and-solid/) [James M. McPherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-mcpherson/) > [“His captors asked why he, a nonslaveholder, was fighting to uphold slavery. He replied: “I’m fighting because you’re down here.”7”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-mcpherson/his-captors-asked-why-he-a-nonslaveholder-was-fighting-to-uphold/) [James M. McPherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-mcpherson/) > [“The casualties at Antietam numbered four times the total suffered by American soldiers at the Normandy beaches on June 6, 1944. More than twice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-mcpherson/the-casualties-at-antietam-numbered-four-times-the-total-suffered-by/) [James M. McPherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-mcpherson/) > [“The Civil War was pre-eminently a political war, a war of peoples rather than of professional armies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-mcpherson/the-civil-war-was-pre-eminently-a-political-war-a-war-of-peoples/) [James M. McPherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-mcpherson/) > [“Governor Beriah Magoffin”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-mcpherson/governor-beriah-magoffin/) [James M. McPherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-mcpherson/) > [“In cities and factories, the vices of our nature are more fully displayed,” declared James Hammond of South Carolina in 1829, while rural life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-mcpherson/in-cities-and-factories-the-vices-of-our-nature-are-more-fully/) [James M. McPherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-mcpherson/) > [“Not surprisingly, South Carolina acted first. “There is nothing in all the dark caves of human passion so cruel and deadly as the hatred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-mcpherson/not-surprisingly-south-carolina-acted-first-there-is-nothing-in-all/) [James M. McPherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-mcpherson/) [Explore all 8 James M. McPherson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-mcpherson/) ## More Division of labor quotes > [Every step by which an individual substitutes concerted action for isolated action results in an immediate and recognizable improvement in his conditions. The advantages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/every-step-by-which-an-individual-substitutes-concerted-action-for/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [“structure of the social division of labor. Many firms and industries must make fundamental changes to long-held business models in order to adapt. 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They cooperate because this best serves their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/people-do-not-cooperate-under-the-division-of-labor-because-they-love/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [“I believe in the division of labor. You send us to Congress; we pass laws under which you make money...and out of your profits,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boies-penrose-senator/i-believe-in-the-division-of-labor-you-send-us-to-congress-we-pass/) Boies Penrose Senator > [Division of labor is a justification for sloth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/division-of-labor-is-a-justification-for-sloth/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [In sinners and repenters you have the original division of labor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/in-sinners-and-repenters-you-have-the-original-division-of-labor/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [“One problem with the division of labor in our complex economy is how it obscures the lines of connection, and therefore of responsibility, between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/one-problem-with-the-division-of-labor-in-our-complex-economy-is-how/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [The danger of these collaborations across disciplines is in having too strict of a division of labor - in my case, of getting stuck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-grubbs/the-danger-of-these-collaborations-across-disciplines-is-in-having/) [David Grubbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-grubbs/) > [People do not cooperate under the division of labor because they love or should love one another. They cooperate because this best serves their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/people-do-not-cooperate-under-the-division-of-labor-because-they-love-2/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Modern techniques have torn down state frontiers, both economical and intellectual. The growth of means of transport has created a world market and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-lous-lange/modern-techniques-have-torn-down-state-frontiers-both-economical-and/) [Christian Lous Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-lous-lange/) > [“Public schools were not only created in the interests of industrialism—they were created in the image of industrialism. In many ways, they reflect the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/public-schools-were-not-only-created-in-the-interests-of/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [The more the division of labor and the application of machinery extend, the more does competition extend among the workers, the more do their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/the-more-the-division-of-labor-and-the-application-of-machinery/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [“Ini and Aevi were entranced by his description of a curriculum that included farming, cparnetry, sewage reclamation, printing, plumbing, road mending, playwriting, and al…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/ini-and-aevi-were-entranced-by-his-description-of-a-curriculum-that/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) [Browse all 107 Division of labor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/division-of-labor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Although per capita income doubled during the half-century, not all sectors of society shared equally in this abundance. While both rich and poor enjoyed rising incomes, their inequality of wealth widened significantly. As the population began to move from farm to city, farmers increasingly specialized in the production of crops for the market rather than for home consumption. The manufacture of cloth, clothing, leather goods, tools, and other products shifted from home to shop and from shop to factory. In the process many women experienced a change in roles from producers to consumers with a consequent transition in status. 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