synthesis
Period 9 is similar to period 7 because of the vast accomplishments in technology and the increase of pollutants. In the industrial era, we saw the development of mass production (assembly lines) and machinery, but they also resulted in negative effects on the environment. The invention of the car and airplane and the construction of more railroads resulted pollution that the United States had never experienced. Similarly, in period 9, we saw the rise of the computer revolution, and the creation of the Internet, and how this affected society. Assembly lines featuring robots resulted in the loss of a lot of jobs in the automotive sector. Computers resulted in new jobs, but they were different jobs that were often sourced offshore. These periods featured great thinkers and companies who led their respective industries to new heights, establishing the United States as leaders in many fields. But our consumer culture meant that we thought more about ourselves, and less about how we were affecting our environment.