“Industrial growth was the main reason for economic modernization in the Americas.” Discuss with reference to one country.

The question requires that candidates offer a considered and balanced review that includes a range of arguments as to whether industrial growth was the main contributor to the economic modernization of one country of the region. Candidates may refer to how industrial growth brought modern features to the economy, such as railroad construction that facilitated the economic integration of regions and systematic organization in factories facilitated by the use of machinery and/or introduction of new production strategies, including scientific management and assembly lines. Candidates may also argue that the second industrial revolution brought the need for modern economic reform to break up monopolies and improve working conditions. Candidates may refer to the relative significance of industrial growth in its contribution to economic modernization, arguing that other factors had greater impact. These could include: supportive government policies; adoption of export-led economies; communication advances, internal migrations, liberal immigration policy and the exploitation of natural resources.

The question required candidates to offer a considered and balanced review that included a range of arguments as to whether industrial growth was the main contributor to the economic modernization of one country of the region. The responses generally focused on the US and rarely produced essays with specific knowledge relevant to the demands. Many candidates provided vague descriptions of economic conditions with some examples not applicable to the era of the question. Understanding of “economic modernization” was often missing.