The United States was subject to immense cultural and technological changes throughout the 20th century. In the first half, the consolidation of the western states occurred as a result of the vast migration of citizens who moved there in search of lands and economic prosperity. This prompted a high demand for numerous resources which fuelled industrialization in the country at that time. The second half saw the arrival of the term "The American Dream", as the middle class was bigger than ever before, benefitted from manufacturing jobs which led them to have more economic power and a better quality of life. Towards the end of the century, exponential growth in technological developments and globalization shifted the social landscape, as the once strong middle class, lost ground as thousands of job went overseas to places where labor was cheaper. It also saw the immense growth of immigrants from Latin America, which ended up forming an important ethnical group among the population of the country.
The Dutch located trading posts near harbors and rivers, such as the Hudson, in the early 1600s because these were the most advantageous in terms of profitable trading with Europe.
